Lovelock blows hot and cold over climate

Controversial author and scientist James Lovelock has said that the ‘climate catastrophe’ he has predicted is not quite as sure as he first thought. Lovelock became famous with his Gaia theory, hypothesising that the Earth behaves as a self regulating mechanism, keeping conditions ideal for life. He also has held what some would consider extreme views on certain environmental issues, which has perhaps built on his reputation as a rebel.

The 92 year old could perhaps be described as a contrarian, but in his latest interview he has infuriated many scientists in saying that current ideas about climate change have been exaggerated.

In 2006 for example, he said that "Our planet has kept itself healthy and fit for life, just like an animal does, for most of the more than three billion years of its existence. It was ill luck that we started polluting at a time when the sun is too hot for comfort… We are responsible and will suffer the consequences: as the century progresses, the temperature will rise 8 degrees centigrade in temperate regions and 5 degrees in the tropics.”

This is at the very upper end of scientific estimates, and was criticised at the time as scaremongering, even by some scientists. Now he is perhaps shifting too far in the opposite direction, which has delighted climate sceptics.

In his latest interview he has said, "There's a lot of climate change deniers who are not just paid servants of the oil industry as they're demonised as being - they're sensible scientists.”

"There's no great certainty about what the future is going to be, so legislation based on green pressure to say ‘in 2050 the temperature will be so much’ is not really very good science at all."

One unnamed IPCC scientist said, "Jim exaggerated the certainties of climate change before, which wasn't helpful then. His recent comments aren't helpful now. They will be seized on by people who argue that science is too uncertain to inform policy - and that's absolutely not the case. He's blown too hot, now he's blowing too cold."

It is not the only time this has happened; in the past he has criticised wind farms, been vociferously pro-nuclear and said that it was too late to do anything about climate change, suggesting we should ‘enjoy life while we can’. It is unlikely to be the last time he makes such grand statements.