New Zealand Celsias

The cranks calling themselves New Zealand Climate Science Coalition (NZCSC) have questioned the independence of Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman.

The NZCSC issued a press release on Sunday stating that it had asked John Key to change Sir Peter’s job title to “more accurately reflect the professor’s global warming propaganda advocacy activities.”

Established by a group of self-described 'climate sceptics' in April 2006, the coalition subscribes to the dubious claim that global warming is part of the earth’s natural cycles rather than the result of man’s activities.

Terry Dunleavy, a former National Party activist and co-founder of the coalition, said Key enlisted Sir Peter in May 2009 to provide a direct channel of independent advice, in a role that demanded “not only a high level of science expertise, but also the utmost integrity to fairly represent the state of science knowledge.”

However, Dunleavy said Professor Gluckman had “emerged as nothing more than a propagandist for global warming zealotry, eschewing any regard for independence or the proud traditions of questioning skepticism in the science he was appointed to represent.”

The coalition statement comes in the same week of Sir Peter’s speech to a Victoria University seminar, which detailed his concerns at how uncertainties in climate change science were being used by sceptics to undermine the public confidence the science system.

Dunleavy said contrary to claims of independence, Sir Peter’s statements in support of man-made climate change have deliberately coincided with times when Government is seeking support the emissions trading scheme (ETS). Environment Minister Nick Smith is due to embark on a series of public meetings to on the ETS.

He also accused Sir Peter of not adhering to best scientific practice by providing no evidence for his assertions on man-made warming other than ‘consensus’, and labelling sceptic ‘deniers’, in breach of the Royal Society’s code of ethics.

Image: NASA