Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Bill Wilson, an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland and a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, will this afternoon criticise ExxonMobil for funding climate change denial and draw attention to the corporation’s expression of regret over its role in this.

Speaking in the Stage 1 Debate on the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill, Dr Wilson will say:  “It is a relief that the new US administration is taking climate change seriously.  Unfortunately the last US administration, and far too many people in general, swallowed the myths of professional climate change deniers.

“…ExxonMobil has publicly recanted, but many of the myths it paid for live on.  All such myths are easily debunked, and I can refer members to a handy website if they are interested (www.grist.org/article/series/skeptics/).”

In the morning before his speech, Dr Wilson commented:  “Of course it is good the ExxonMobil announced that it intended to cut funds to several groups that ‘divert attention’ from the need to find new sources of clean energy, but the lies it paid for seem to have a life of their own.

“I am convinced that climate change is one of the most serious issues of our age, or of any age for that matter, and am pleased that the Scottish Government has taken scientific advice seriously and is taking real action to tackle global warming.  I urge sceptics to take the overwhelming opinion of scientists seriously.  A little bit of knowledge goes a long way in terms of seeing through myths such as the one that volcanoes are causing global warming.

“Finally, I would request that the media do not accord uninformed opinion the same weight as properly researched scientific evidence.  To do so, under the pretence of fairness, is to mislead the public.  The consequences of an ill-informed population could be catastrophic.”

Notes to Editors

1.  ExxonMobil’s admission
Exxon to cut funding to climate change denial groups

2.  Debunking climate change denial
How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic: Responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming