A controversial Channel 4 documentary about global warming misrepresented the views of the British Government’s former chief scientist, the broadcasting regulator Ofcom ruled today.
The broadcast regulator ruled that The Great Global Warming Swindle was in breach of a number of rules in the Broadcasting Code, including in its criticism of Sir David King for comments he did not make.
An Ofcom investigation also found the documentary, written and directed by Martin Durkin, treated Sir David, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Professor Carl Wunsch “unfairly”.
The regulator said the programme made some “significant allegations” without offering an “appropriate and timely opportunity” to respond.
But Ofcom found - despite concerns over the presentation and omission of various facts and views - that the audience watching the programme, broadcast on March 8th last year, was not “materially misled”.
The programme sought to challenge the theory that human activity is the main cause of climate change and global warming.
A range of scientists and commentators argued the current consensus on the causes of global warming is based on unsound science and is politically motivated.
Ofcom’s investigation came in response to individual complaints from Sir David, the IPCC and Prof Wunsch.
There were also 265 complaints from members of the public, and there was a group complaint - running to 270 pages - from eight individuals, including scientists.
The group complaint argued that the programme would stop viewers acting to prevent climate change.
Channel 4 denied the allegations, saying the programme was an “authored polemic” which sought to examine the debate over the cause of global warming and outline possible alternative causes.
Ofcom found the majority of the programme did not result in the audience being materially misled to such an extent as to cause harm or offence. But the regulator ruled that the final part of the programme breached the “due impartiality” requirement of the code.
PA