Email 2566, June 2002, UEA's Mike Hulme to Doug Parr of Greenpeace: "In regard to climate change, one can argue that the problem is not the conduct of science but the conduct of the public. Many of us actually lead the public in terms of radicalism"

Email 2566

In regard to climate change, one can argue that the problem is not the conduct of science but the conduct of the public. Many of us actually lead the public in terms of radicalism, for example in emphasising that 60% reductions in emissions are necessary (cf. the fuel protest of 2000) and in demonstrating the viability of a range of renewable technologies that, often, the public don't want (cf. wind turbines always in the 'wrong' places). The problem here is not a problem of distrust in science and scientists, but apathy, conservatism and lack of vision on the part of our public.