Summary of #32 - Former British MP Lembit Opik: “The greens, not me, are the climate change deniers."

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

Former British MP Lembit Opik shared his perspective on climate change, arguing that policy decisions are self-harming and that humans have a small impact on global warming. Opik criticized UK government policies and energy regulations, calling for the country to use its own resources instead of importing oil. He also believes that the green economic agenda has become a political movement with its own vested interests and that mainstream media outlets want people to say a certain thing about climate change. Opik argues that CO2 is a factor in climate change, but not the only one, and that it has done more good than harm. He also believes that the chances of the Earth turning into Venus because of CO2 emissions are zero and that the greens are the real climate change deniers.

• 00:00:00 In this section, former British MP Lembit Opik discusses his belief that humans have a small impact on global warming and that current policy decisions are self-harming. He claims that the world has been getting warmer since the 1850s and that humans are like ripples on the swell of climate change. Opik is critical of UK government policies and energy regulations, stating that they are creating an artificial inflation rate and that the country is disingenuous by continuing to import oil instead of using its own resources. He believes that the UK needs to start getting real about the science of climate change and not canceling people who challenge current beliefs.
• 00:05:00 In this section, the host asks the guest about fossil fuel reserves in the UK and if they have enough to be energy independent. The guest estimates there is 150 years worth of oil and 100 years worth of gas in the UK, along with plenty of coal. The host then expresses his view that CO2 is a good thing and not pollution and that almost everyone who believes it is a problem does not know what they're talking about. The guest speaks about how people need to look at evidence for themselves and that CO2 is needed for all life, plants especially. Lastly, the guest speaks about the current Prime Minister and how the labor party has the same views on the green agenda.
• 00:10:00 In this section, former British MP Lembit Opik argues that the Green economic agenda, promoted by organizations like the World Economic Forum and the United Nations, has become a political movement with its own vested interests. Opik asserts that the media landscape in the UK has also been impacted by a lack of diversity in viewpoints influenced by the government and a middle-class received view, but new outlets like GB News and Talk TV are tapping into a nascent uncancel culture reflecting millions of people who want to engage in free thinking dialogue.
• 00:15:00 In this section, Lembit Opik, a former British MP, discusses his perspective on media outlets and their coverage of climate change. Opik believes that many mainstream outlets want people to say a certain thing, and if they do not, they find ways not to have them on again. He also notes a Channel 4 documentary, "The Great Global Warming Swindle," which was skeptical of climate change, aired and wonders if it would happen again in today's media landscape. Additionally, Opik has been involved in the climate debate for 44 years and believes that the media has coalesced in agreeing that there is a climate crisis, regardless of science.
• 00:20:00 In this section, Lembit Opik discusses the history of climate change debates in the UK, particularly during the time of Margaret Thatcher, and how opinions were based on limited information. Opik says that he is currently opposing the ban on internal combustion engines in the UK through his organization, Transport Reality. He hopes to create a rational debate that involves both skeptics and those who do believe in anthropogenic climate change, without resorting to histrionic, virtuous signaling.
• 00:25:00 In this section, former British MP Lembit Opik argues that the green agenda has reduced climate change to a single gas, CO2, which makes people like him and potentially the viewers and listeners wrongly indoctrinated into hitting CO2 as the biggest environmental concern. He believes that if humans are successful, we'll have real debates, but ad hominem attacks prevent them. Opik praises viewers for providing a genuine and honest forum where people like him can express their views, make judgments, and believe in the correct outcome of science. He believes that it's right to be prudent in the use of limited resources, but it's wrong to destroy mainly Western economies while other countries aren't doing much about climate change.
• 00:30:00 In this section, Tom, the host of the show, discusses the insensitivity of Bill Gates' recent remark regarding the current fossil fuels shortage being good for the transition to green energy. Tom finds it heartless that Gates would make such a comment, especially considering the fact that he will not suffer the consequences of the shortage. Lembit Opik, the guest, states that if Gates is serious about climate change, he should stop playing around the world and prove that CO2 is the driver and not the measure of global warming or cooling. The discussion then moves to a debate on the idea of a climate crisis and the supposed 97% consensus among climatologists. Tom argues that there is no consensus on a climate crisis, and the so-called 97% consensus is a myth. He further claims that data shows no evidence to support a climate crisis, and there is no proof that CO2 causes bad weather.
• 00:35:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the melting of the Antarctic, stating that while some areas around the edges may be melting due to nearby volcanic activity, the ice overall is not melting. They also mention that the Arctic ice has actually increased since 2012, despite claims of decreasing ice. When asked about their contrarian views on the impact of CO2 on the climate, they explain that while CO2 is a greenhouse gas, the impact it has decreases logarithmically, meaning that while a small amount has a big impact, adding more and more does not have as significant of an impact. They compare it to taking vitamins, where a small amount is good for you, but too much just passes through your body without much impact.
• 00:40:00 In this section, former British politician Lembit Opik discusses the role of CO2 in climate change, stating that CO2 is a factor, but not the only factor. He argues that CO2 has done more good than harm, including a 30% increase in global wheat yields in the last 50 years. Opik also notes that NASA has confirmed that the Earth has gotten greener due to the increase in CO2. When asked about the potential risk of being wrong about climate change, Opik argues that the Earth's atmosphere has self-regulated for 2.5 billion years and as long as there is liquid water, organisms can adapt and survive.
• 00:45:00 In this section, Lembit Opik argues that the greens, not him, are the climate change deniers. He also expresses confidence that the chances of the Earth turning into Venus because of CO2 emissions are zero. Opik discusses his passion for fighting the lies and agenda surrounding climate change and expresses interest in participating in a debate on the topic. He also shares his contact information for viewers who would like to raise questions or modify his position.