‘Climate villain’: scientists say Rupert Murdoch wielded his media empire to sow confusion and doubt

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Image of InBedWithBigOil by Not Here To Be Liked + Hex Prints from Just Stop Oil's You May Find Yourself... art auction. Featuring Rishi Sunak, Fossil Fuels and Rupert Murdoch.
Image of InBedWithBigOil by Not Here To Be Liked + Hex Prints from Just Stop Oil’s You May Find Yourself… art auction. Featuring Rishi Sunak, Fossil Fuels and Rupert Murdoch.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/23/rupert-murdoch-climate-change-denial

The tycoon, who is stepping down from News Corp and Fox, has used his outlets to promote denial and delay action, experts say

Scientists have described the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch as a “climate villain” who has used his television and newspaper empire to promote climate science denial and delay action.

Prof Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, said Murdoch had been “one of the most destructive forces in modern history when it comes to climate action”.

“He has wielded his global media empire as a cudgel to sow confusion and doubt about the science and the solutions. He will go down in history as one of the greatest climate villains,” said Mann.

Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, said: “There’s no doubt that the Murdoch empire has played an important role in letting the public believe that there was any scientific doubt that the burning of fossil fuel causes the climate to warm and that it is detrimental for society and ecosystems. It is a terrible legacy he leaves, that many people paid for, and are paying for, with their lives and livelihoods.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/23/rupert-murdoch-climate-change-denial

Image: Boris Johnson confirms his thumbs up from Rupert Murdoch
Boris Johnson confirms his thumbs up to be UK prime minister from Rupert Murdoch
Continue Reading‘Climate villain’: scientists say Rupert Murdoch wielded his media empire to sow confusion and doubt

Rishi Sunak considers weakening key green policies

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Madness, Driving in My Car

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66857551

Rishi Sunak is considering weakening some of the government’s key green commitments in a major policy shift.

First, the government would push the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars – currently set to come into force in 2030 – back to 2035. The 2030 date has been government policy since 2020.

Second, the government would significantly weaken the plan to phase out the installation of gas boilers by 2035, saying that they only want 80% to be phased out by that year.

Third, homeowners and landlords would be told that there will be no new energy efficiency regulations on homes. Ministers had been considering imposing fines on landlords who fail to upgrade their properties to a certain level of energy efficiency.

Fourth, the 2026 ban on off-grid oil boilers will be delayed to 2035, with only an 80% phase out target at that date.

In addition, Britons will be told that there will be no new taxes to discourage flying, no government policies to change people’s diets and no measures to encourage carpooling.

Mr Sunak is also likely to rule out what he sees as burdensome recycling schemes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66857551

Continue ReadingRishi Sunak considers weakening key green policies

Oxfam says tax filthy rich polluters responsible for climate destruction

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Greenpeace activists display a billboard during a protest outside Shell headquarters on July 27, 2023 in London.
Greenpeace activists display a billboard during a protest outside Shell headquarters on July 27, 2023 in London. (Photo: Handout/Chris J. Ratcliffe for Greenpeace via Getty Images)

Oxfam’s report Payment Overdue, Fair ways to make polluters across the UK pay for climate justice proposes that those most responsible for emissions and those best able to pay should pay to address climate change. Oxfam recognises that fossil fuel companies and rich individuals “are disproportionately responsible for the climate crisis” but “have been let off with not paying to deal with its consequences.”

Extinction Rebellion NL image reads STOP FOSSIELE SUBSIDIES
Extinction Rebellion NL image reads STOP FOSSIELE SUBSIDIES

The climate crisis is now a reality: its effects range from the UK breaching 
40°C for the first time in 2022 to a devastating and ongoing drought in East 
Africa, which would not have occurred without global heating. In the UK and 
globally, it is people living in poverty who bear the consequences of 
inaction. Public finance is a critical lifeline for communities on the frontlines 
of the climate crisis, yet we are increasingly looking to dwindling aid 
budgets to meet escalating needs. Meanwhile, billionaires amass yet more 
wealth and fossil fuel producers post record profits. 


These polluters have caused – and continue to cause – irreversible damage 
to our planet, and it’s only fair that they pay for the harm caused by their 
actions. Fairer taxes on the largest polluters would not only generate 
additional finance but could also create financial incentives for them to 
reduce their emissions.  


The UK is a huge historical emitter. It must take responsibility for this, but 
the onus of paying should not be split equally among the public. Those who 
have emitted the most and profited while doing so – particularly fossil fuel 
producers and wealthy people – should be doing the heavy lifting. This 
paper sets out four options to do this. 

Placard reads Curb Greed Tax the Rich
Placard reads Curb Greed Tax the Rich

Payment Overdue, Fair ways to make polluters across the UK pay for climate justice

Continue ReadingOxfam says tax filthy rich polluters responsible for climate destruction

Emma Thompson Chills on $200 Million Superyacht Eos Like a Millionaire Hypocrite

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https://www.autoevolution.com/news/emma-thompson-chills-on-200-million-superyacht-eos-like-a-millionaire-hypocrite-220448.html

Emma Thompson is a name that comes up often whenever there’s a larger discussion about eco-hypocrites among A-list celebrities. Just like that doctor who can’t be bothered to put out his own cigarette while he’s scolding you for not being able to kick the habit, some celebrities who get very passionate in their discourse on climate issues fail to live up to the expectations their discourse gives way to. Thompson is one of them.

Examples abound. She once flew private out of Los Angeles and into London just so she could attend an Extinction Rebellion march in the capital. Just to put this in the right light, she flew private to London to join a march on the dangers of climate change and urging us, regular folk, to ditch commercial flights to save our planet – no ifs and buts about it.

Thompson often speaks at rallies of this kind, yet she owns homes in three different countries and often jetsets from one to the other – not flying commercial, but private. She is just one of the many examples of holier-than-thou-type of stars who preach extreme measures only for show while they continue living their life as before.

This is necessary context in order to understand the fresh wave of criticism directed at her: Emma Thompson is now in Venice, where she owns a home and is an honorary citizen, vacationing onboard the Eos superyacht. Eos is an older build from luxury shipyard Lurssen that previously held the record as the world’s largest sail-assisted superyacht before Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos had Koru delivered.

Continue ReadingEmma Thompson Chills on $200 Million Superyacht Eos Like a Millionaire Hypocrite