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The '''Lavoisier Group''' is an organisation based in [[Australia]] that promotes scepticism of current [[Climate change consensus|scientific consensus on global warming]]. The organisation questions the fears of the [[effects of global warming]], the idea that human activity causes it, and the wisdom of [[Politics of global warming|policies designed to curtail it]]. They believe that political influence has trumped scientific truth, and that most of the scientists that support the theory that human activity is a cause of global warming do so because scientists that disagree with that prevailing belief lose access to government funding, the primary source of funds for any scientific study. {{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} |
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The '''Lavoisier Group''' is an Australian organisation formed by politicians and dominated by retired industrial businesspeople and engineers.<ref name=Theage>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/11/26/1101219743320.html "The global warming sceptics."] Theage.com.au. Nov. 27, 2004. Retrieved Jan. 1, 2014.</ref> It does not accept the [[Scientific opinion on climate change|science of global warming]] and works to influence attitudes of policy makers and politicians. The organisation downplays the risk of the [[effects of global warming]], rejects the scientific conclusion that human activity causes it, and opposes [[Politics of global warming|policies designed to curtail it]]. Some members regard climate change as a "scam."<ref name=Theage/> |
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The sources of funding for the group are not public, but the [[Sydney Morning Herald]] claimed it has links to many groups that have until recently been funded as part of the [[Exxon Mobil]] climate change skepticism campaign. That campaign recently ceased after a shareholder revolt.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/global-warming/the-climate-change-smokescreen/2008/08/01/1217097533885.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap3 |title=The Sydney Morning Herald: national, world, business, entertainment, sport and technology news from Australia's leading newspaper. |publisher=smh.com.au |accessdate=2009-10-13 }}</ref> |
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The group was named after French scientist [[Antoine Lavoisier]] (1743-1794), the father of modern chemistry who disproved the [[Phlogiston theory]] of [[combustion]]. |
The group was named after French scientist [[Antoine Lavoisier]] (1743-1794), the father of modern chemistry who disproved the [[Phlogiston theory]] of [[combustion]]. |
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==Creation== |
==Creation== |
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The Lavoisier Group was created in response to submissions by the Australian Greenhouse Office to Cabinet to implement a carbon trading scheme. Its founders claimed that there had been "very little ongoing public debate about these proposals... are of the view that the science behind global warming policy is far less certain than its protagonists claim, and we also believe that the economic damage which Australia would suffer, if a carbon tax of the magnitude canvassed in AGO documents were imposed, would be far, far greater than is currently appreciated in Canberra" <ref> |
The Lavoisier Group was created in response to submissions by the Australian Greenhouse Office to Cabinet to implement a carbon trading scheme. Its founders claimed that there had been "very little ongoing public debate about these proposals... are of the view that the science behind global warming policy is far less certain than its protagonists claim, and we also believe that the economic damage which Australia would suffer, if a [[carbon tax]] of the magnitude canvassed in AGO documents were imposed, would be far, far greater than is currently appreciated in Canberra" <ref>[http://www.lavoisier.com.au/ The Lavoisier Group]</ref> |
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Following an inaugural conference in May 1999,<ref name=Hamilton>Hamilton, Clive. "Green conspiracy theory; An anti-greenhouse group has been taking its message to the extreme, conducting a systematic campaign to muddy the waters on climate science." ''Canberra Times'' (Australia). Jan. 10, 2002.</ref> the group was founded in April 2000 by former Finance Minister [[Peter Walsh (federal politician)|Peter Walsh]]<ref name=Flannery>Flannery, Tim Fridtjof. ''The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth''. Atlantic Monthly Press. 2006. [ |
Following an inaugural conference in May 1999,<ref name=Hamilton>Hamilton, Clive. "Green conspiracy theory; An anti-greenhouse group has been taking its message to the extreme, conducting a systematic campaign to muddy the waters on climate science." ''Canberra Times'' (Australia). Jan. 10, 2002.</ref> the group was founded in April 2000 by former Finance Minister [[Peter Walsh (federal politician)|Peter Walsh]],<ref name=Flannery>Flannery, Tim Fridtjof. ''The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth''. Atlantic Monthly Press. 2006. [https://archive.org/details/weathermakershow00flan/page/244 <!-- quote="lavoisier group". --> p. 244]. {{ISBN|0-87113-935-9}}.</ref> [[Ian Webber]], [[Ray Evans (Australian businessman)|Ray Evans]], Harold Clough (current Director of [[Institute of Public Affairs]]),<ref>https://ipa.org.au/people/harold-clough {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225064002/https://ipa.org.au/people/harold-clough |date=2016-02-25 }} | Harold Clough ipa.org.au</ref> Robert Foster and [[Bruce Kean]], with an opening address by supporter [[Hugh Morgan (Australian businessman)|Hugh Morgan]].<ref>[http://www.lavoisier.com.au/articles/climate-policy/science-and-policy/morgan2000-c1.php The Lavoisier Group: 'Opening Address' by Hugh Morgan]</ref> Secretary Ray Evans describes the 90-odd Lavoisier members as a "dad's army" of mostly retired engineers and scientists from the mining, manufacturing and construction industries, such as [[Garth Paltridge]] and [[Ian Plimer]]. The annual subscription fee is 50 [[Australian dollar|dollars]], and the annual budget is 10,000 dollars.<ref name=Theage/> |
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==Aims== |
==Aims== |
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The Lavoisier Group lists its aims as: |
The Lavoisier Group lists its aims as: |
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# To promote vigorous debate within Australia on greenhouse science and greenhouse policy; |
# To promote vigorous debate within Australia on greenhouse science and greenhouse policy; |
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# To ensure that the full extent of the economic consequences, for Australia, of the regime of carbon withdrawal prescribed by the yet-to-be-ratified Kyoto Protocol, are fully understood by the Australian community; |
# To ensure that the full extent of the economic consequences, for Australia, of the regime of carbon withdrawal prescribed by the yet-to-be-ratified [[Kyoto Protocol]], are fully understood by the Australian community; |
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# to explore the implications which treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol have for Australia's sovereignty, and for the GATT/WTO rules which protect Australia (and other WTO members) from the use of trade sanctions as an instrument of extraterritorial power. |
# to explore the implications which treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol have for Australia's sovereignty, and for the GATT/WTO rules which protect Australia (and other WTO members) from the use of trade sanctions as an instrument of extraterritorial power. |
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==Views== |
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==Current activities== |
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The Lavoisier Group continues to hold annual conferences, and the group has promoted a variety of theories contradicting the [[Scientific opinion on climate change|mainstream scientific positions on global warming]], including the arguments of retired judge, amateur [[climatologist]] and [[astrologer]] [[Theodor Landscheidt]],<ref name="bf">{{cite web |url=http://www.lavoisier.com.au/articles/greenhouse-science/climate-change/BobFosterDec2003.pdf |title=Inquiry into the Kyoto Protocol : Submission to the Australian Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and Arts Legislation Committee |accessdate=2009-12-13 |publisher=The Lavoisier Group |author=Bob Foster |format=PDF |year=2003}}</ref> whose work on solar cycles was used to argue that observed warming is based on solar cycles, and hence is not anthropogenic and will soon be reversed. |
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Walsh has blamed politics for the current consensus on global warming. The group claims that many scientists choose to endorse prevailing theories of global warming to protect their research funding by the government, a view that is held by French climatologist and author |
Walsh has blamed politics for the current consensus on global warming. The group claims that many scientists choose to endorse prevailing theories of global warming to protect their research funding by the government, a view that is held by French climatologist and author Marcel Leroux,<ref name="garnautsub">{{cite web |url=http://www.lavoisier.com.au/articles/climate-policy/garnaut/GarnautsubappxA.pdf |title=Submission from the Lavoisier Group to the Garnaut Climate Change Review APPENDIX A |accessdate=2009-12-13 |publisher=The Lavoisier Group |year=2007}}</ref> and was the subject of the book ''Meltdown: The Predictable Distortion of Global Warming by Scientists, Politicians, and the Media'' by [[Patrick Michaels]]. A supporter, former minister [[Tony Staley]], has characterised global warming as a form of "[[political correctness]]".<ref name=Hamilton /> |
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==Responses== |
==Responses== |
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Author [[Clive Hamilton]], |
Author [[Clive Hamilton]], in his book ''Scorcher'', says that one can find the following arguments in the various papers promoted by the Lavoisier Group:<ref name="scorcher">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z-Vv6nNLlsEC&q=Lavoisier+group&pg=PA142 |title=Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change |pages=142 |author=Clive Hamilton |authorlink=Clive Hamilton |isbn=978-0-9775949-0-0 |year=2007 |publisher=Black Inc.}}</ref> |
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*There is no evidence of global warming. |
*There is no evidence of global warming. |
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*If global warming is occurring and it is due to human activity, and it is going to be damaging, then the costs of avoiding it are too high, so we should do nothing. |
*If global warming is occurring and it is due to human activity, and it is going to be damaging, then the costs of avoiding it are too high, so we should do nothing. |
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The group's top members have denied receiving compensation from industry, unlike some global warming skeptics in the United States, who have admitted to receiving compensation by [[fossil fuel]] companies.<ref name=Theage /> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lavoisier_Group Sourcewatch] The Lavoisier Group |
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lavoisier_Group Sourcewatch] The Lavoisier Group |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Climate change denial]] |
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[[Category:Organizations established in 2000]] |
[[Category:Organizations established in 2000]] |
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[[Category:Political advocacy groups in Australia]] |
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in Australia]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:47, 23 January 2023
The Lavoisier Group is an Australian organisation formed by politicians and dominated by retired industrial businesspeople and engineers.[1] It does not accept the science of global warming and works to influence attitudes of policy makers and politicians. The organisation downplays the risk of the effects of global warming, rejects the scientific conclusion that human activity causes it, and opposes policies designed to curtail it. Some members regard climate change as a "scam."[1]
The group was named after French scientist Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794), the father of modern chemistry who disproved the Phlogiston theory of combustion.
Creation[edit]
The Lavoisier Group was created in response to submissions by the Australian Greenhouse Office to Cabinet to implement a carbon trading scheme. Its founders claimed that there had been "very little ongoing public debate about these proposals... are of the view that the science behind global warming policy is far less certain than its protagonists claim, and we also believe that the economic damage which Australia would suffer, if a carbon tax of the magnitude canvassed in AGO documents were imposed, would be far, far greater than is currently appreciated in Canberra" [2]
Following an inaugural conference in May 1999,[3] the group was founded in April 2000 by former Finance Minister Peter Walsh,[4] Ian Webber, Ray Evans, Harold Clough (current Director of Institute of Public Affairs),[5] Robert Foster and Bruce Kean, with an opening address by supporter Hugh Morgan.[6] Secretary Ray Evans describes the 90-odd Lavoisier members as a "dad's army" of mostly retired engineers and scientists from the mining, manufacturing and construction industries, such as Garth Paltridge and Ian Plimer. The annual subscription fee is 50 dollars, and the annual budget is 10,000 dollars.[1]
Aims[edit]
The Lavoisier Group lists its aims as:
- To promote vigorous debate within Australia on greenhouse science and greenhouse policy;
- To ensure that the full extent of the economic consequences, for Australia, of the regime of carbon withdrawal prescribed by the yet-to-be-ratified Kyoto Protocol, are fully understood by the Australian community;
- to explore the implications which treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol have for Australia's sovereignty, and for the GATT/WTO rules which protect Australia (and other WTO members) from the use of trade sanctions as an instrument of extraterritorial power.
Views[edit]
Walsh has blamed politics for the current consensus on global warming. The group claims that many scientists choose to endorse prevailing theories of global warming to protect their research funding by the government, a view that is held by French climatologist and author Marcel Leroux,[7] and was the subject of the book Meltdown: The Predictable Distortion of Global Warming by Scientists, Politicians, and the Media by Patrick Michaels. A supporter, former minister Tony Staley, has characterised global warming as a form of "political correctness".[3]
Responses[edit]
Author Clive Hamilton, in his book Scorcher, says that one can find the following arguments in the various papers promoted by the Lavoisier Group:[8]
- There is no evidence of global warming.
- If there is evidence of global warming, then it is not due to human activity.
- If global warming is occurring and it is due to human activity, then it is not going to be damaging.
- If global warming is occurring and it is due to human activity, and it is going to be damaging, then the costs of avoiding it are too high, so we should do nothing.
The group's top members have denied receiving compensation from industry, unlike some global warming skeptics in the United States, who have admitted to receiving compensation by fossil fuel companies.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "The global warming sceptics." Theage.com.au. Nov. 27, 2004. Retrieved Jan. 1, 2014.
- ^ The Lavoisier Group
- ^ a b Hamilton, Clive. "Green conspiracy theory; An anti-greenhouse group has been taking its message to the extreme, conducting a systematic campaign to muddy the waters on climate science." Canberra Times (Australia). Jan. 10, 2002.
- ^ Flannery, Tim Fridtjof. The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth. Atlantic Monthly Press. 2006. p. 244. ISBN 0-87113-935-9.
- ^ https://ipa.org.au/people/harold-clough Archived 2016-02-25 at the Wayback Machine | Harold Clough ipa.org.au
- ^ The Lavoisier Group: 'Opening Address' by Hugh Morgan
- ^ "Submission from the Lavoisier Group to the Garnaut Climate Change Review APPENDIX A" (PDF). The Lavoisier Group. 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
- ^ Clive Hamilton (2007). Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change. Black Inc. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-9775949-0-0.
External links[edit]
- The Lavoisier Group website
- Sourcewatch The Lavoisier Group