As attacks on climate science intensify, we must all work hard to protect our living planet

Martin Williams says the environmental movement’s apparent loss of momentum under the sway of money and politics should worry us, for human survival is at stake

Reading Time:3 minutes

Sami children play in the reindeer kindergarten in Karasjok, Norway. The indigenous people of Europe’s Arctic region were celebrating the centenary of their national day on February 6 with some 120 events planned in Norway. Photo: NTB Scanpix via AP

Published: 12:01pm, 17 Feb 2017Updated: 9:26pm, 17 Feb 2017

Growing up in the 1970s, I loved the outdoors and wildlife, and was highly impressed by the environmental movement, which to me seemed brimming with energy and optimism. “Save the Whale” was a rallying cry, as activists clashed with hunters, leading to a ban on commercial whaling in 1982. Other issues like acid rain and the ozone hole became prominent, and likewise spurred action to reduce the damage. To me, it was a given that environmental awareness would grow.

Arriving in Hong Kong in the late 1980s, I found that environmental awareness seemed to lag behind my native UK, but it began blossoming as local campaigners worked to save wildlife like the black-faced spoonbills and highlighted air pollution.

A flock of black-faced spoonbills rest at the Mai Po nature reserve in Hong Kong. Photo: May Tse

But lately, things have changed. The “green movement” seems to have lost momentum and stalled, maybe even gone into reverse. This is partly as the magnitude of problems has grown; it’s no longer enough to “just” save whales and lovely places, but global threats loom ever larger, notably climate change and overpopulation. Maybe these seem just too daunting to many people.

Also, environmentalism has become subject to a concerted counter-attack, sponsored by big business. This employs effective messaging such as suggesting science on the issue is far from settled, perhaps even wrong.

Sea ice around Antarctica shrinks to record low, preliminary US data show

The attack on climate science has been especially fierce, underwritten by fossil-fuel companies, including ExxonMobil. Yet, as early as 1977, Exxon (yet to merge with Mobil) was aware of the issue, with an internal report warning that human-caused emissions could raise global temperatures and result in serious consequences. It started research programmes and created computer models on the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Publicly, however, Exxon cast doubt on the science.