Lord Monckton, whose full name is Christopher Walter Monckton, is a British hereditary peer and former journalist who is perhaps best known for his “controversial” views on climate change.
Why “controversial”?
Because he challenges the established narrative.
Monckton worked for The Yorkshire Post, The Scotsman, and The Sunday Telegraph.
He later went on to work as an advisor to Margaret Thatcher during the 1980s.
He has been a prominent sceptic of mainstream climate science and has disputed the consensus view that human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, is the primary driver of global warming.
It’s important to remember that consensus is not science.
Consensus is based on opinion and not evidence.
Science is based on evidence rather than opinion. In order to reach a scientific consensus, scientists must gather evidence followed by analysing it. However, consensus is simply a measure of how many scientists agree with a particular interpretation of the evidence.
Just because a majority of scientists agree on something does not mean that they are right.
Plus, consensus can be manipulated by a variety of factors including funding, political pressure, and personal bias.
Consider the following two examples of why consensus is not science.
- For centuries, bloodletting was a common medical practice. It was believed that by draining the body of “bad blood,” doctors could cure a variety of diseases including fevers, headaches and even mental illness. In the 19th century, doctors began to realise that bloodletting was actually harmful and could lead to anaemia, infections and even death. By the early 20th century, bloodletting had been largely abandoned as a medical practice.
- For decades, the medical community believed that smoking was not harmful to one’s health. In fact, many doctors even recommended smoking as a way to relieve stress and improve concentration. However, in the 1950s, research began to show that smoking was actually a major cause of cancer, heart disease and other health problems. By the 1970s, the consensus had shifted.
Lord Monckton has argued that climate change is natural and not primarily caused by human activities, and has criticised climate change mitigation efforts and international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
