BBC give too time on air time to climate skeptic, inquiry
An independent inquiry has found that climate skeptics, those who are against the notion that man-made emissions contribute to global warming, got too much time on air on the BBC because of its efforts to be impartial.
Professor Steve Jones, who reviewed the broadcaster's science coverage on request of the BBC Trust said that if one of the participants in a strong scientific discussion presents dubious evidence, the claim of maintaining a balance is not justified.
"For at least three years, the climate change deniers have been marginal to the scientific debate, but somehow they continued to find a place on the airwaves," he said.
The BBC Trust has been requested to focus less on opponents of the “majority consensus” in its programmes. The coverage should not be tailored to represent a “false balance” of opinion if one of the sides is from a minority group.
Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics at University College, London also contributed to the study after he reviewed coverage. He pointed out that he did not find any evidence of bias in BBC output. He said that if there is a scientific consensus then minority opponents should not be hunted, just to maintain a balance.