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Ian Wishart and Gareth Morgan on climate change - Source: Close Up -
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As the great and the good descend on Copenhagen to decide how to tackle climate change the debate still rages over whether or not humans have created the problem.
The climate change issue has vexed Ian Wishart and Gareth Morgan so much that both have published books on the topic. However, they are on opposing sides of the debate.
On one side of the argument Wishart has written a book entitled Air Con which comes down on the side of the sceptics, whereas Morgan's book, Poles Apart, states that humans are responsible for global warming.
Both spoke to TVNZ's Close Up programme and while they may have differing opinions they do agree that there is a warming trend, the issue is whether or not this is predominantly caused by humans.
Wishart, a journalist and conspiracist says that global warming is almost certainly a natural cycle and any human influence is minor.
He claims climate scientists have lied to make global warming appear far worse and that the current scare is being fuelled by greed with big players making a fortune by clipping the ticket on carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes.
Wishart says that usually he would trust scientists, but with the "climategate" scandal showing that science has been doctored the trust has been lost when it comes to climate change.
"If these people have to lie about the evidence you have to ask the question 'how good is the evidence really?'," he says.
He says there is an enormous amount of money in the industry and the issue is how much money is being made by people with a vested interest?
"With climate change you have an estimate of $US145 trillion which is going to be taken from Western economies and given to the third world in the name of climate change. We had better be sure it is happening for human reasons because if not it is the biggest bank robbery in history," he says.
Morgan on the other hand is a former sceptic and multimillionaire who has spent millions interviewing the foremost scientists on both sides of the debate and he is convinced climate change is well and truly here.
He says it is not an issue of public opinion, simply a question of science and scientists agree the world is warming because of the co2 produced by humans.
Morgan says it is not proven beyond all reasonable doubt that climate change is caused by humans but that "as at the end of 2008 the balance of evidence was that it was being driven by humans".
He says there is enough evidence of climate change to invoke a policy on it.
Morgan admits there has been questionable behaviour from some scientists when it comes to doctoring data, but it needs to be remembered that there are thousands of scientists working on climate change and not just a few.
When it comes to the Copenhagen climate change talks Wishart says nothing is going to come from it and it is going to cost a fortune.
Morgan on the other hand says that "as long as Obama and the Chinese can reach an agreement we will all follow it".
Close Up ran a poll with this story and asked whose climate change views do you believe?
23% of you voted for Gareth Morgan, while 77% voted for
Ian Wishart.
