Our thinking

Sustainable debate

19 July, 2024

It’s hard to believe that people are still climate sceptics in the face of unequivocal evidence. It sounds even more implausible that such people are given a platform without being challenged. But not so in France where TV channel CNews has been fined for broadcasting climate scepticism unchallenged.

During the programme, economist Philippe Herlin stated that anthropogenic global warming is a “conspiracy” to “justify the intervention of the State in our lives” but was not contradicted by anybody else in the TV studio, including the hosts. Concerning that this could happen on the second most watched news channel in France – but at least then the fine came in.

This is less likely to happen in the US, where Trump’s choice for Vice President, JD Vance seems likely to create similar challenges. As a senator, he blocked several Biden climate-tackling policies in his state, including one in favour of electric cars, and has said he is “sceptical of the idea that climate change is caused purely by man”.

An issue as complex as climate change requires fruitful, constructive discussions to weigh the pros and cons of the proposed solutions, and a recognition that even among climate scientists there is disagreement on some elements of climate change, its impacts and causes. But questioning the reality of climate change harks back to a time we really thought was behind us. With the pressure of elections raising the stakes in France and US and elsewhere – this is after all the year when more people on Earth will vote than ever before – making sure that we are having the right discussions feels more important than ever.

By Flora Gicquel