Chris Packham: Climate Denial Should Be Illegal

I think climate change denial should be illegal. That’s how dangerous it is. Freedom of speech is imperative but we have established limits to protect people’s rights in terms of race, religion etc.

When it comes to the calculated lies and propaganda espoused by lobbyists for the fossil fuel and other industries with vested interests in bad business, as usual nothing could be more dangerous. Their lies potentially threaten all life on earth. We should all have a fundamental right to the truth. The truth is we are warming the planet at a catastrophic rate and unless we decelerate immediately our species has no secure future on earth.

To resist is reckless and irresponsible. But it happens every day. Fully paid-up liars pedal misinformation and undermine those who attempt to communicate the truth. Science, independent, vetted and published science is where we should go for facts — not the corrupt politicians , despicable ‘think tanks’, their lackeys, trolls and bots. Their contrived and careless talk could cost billions of lives.

All this sounds alarming buts all is not lost if we act quickly. For a start we have to keep the fossil fuels in the ground and move towards a plant-based diet. The biggest issues are burning oil, coal and gas and animal agriculture. But we don’t have to stop flying and driving or freeze in our homes. That’s the myth the climate liars like to promote. And we don’t have to starve either.

We have abilities and technologies ready to roll, renewable energies work, we can make healthy and nutritious food from grass, cutting out the cow, and all the associated ills of poor welfare and environmental destruction. Investing in these opportunities is where we should be going now.

And if our Government doesn’t move fast enough we should peacefully complain and just make the right choices ourselves. We can and must make the difference and we can all start by outing the liars and listening to the truth.