C4 climate programme breached rules
Monday, 21 Jul 2008 12:44
The programme challenged view that man is main cause of climate change
The media regulator has found that Channel 4's documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle broke a number of broadcasting rules.
Ofcom said today that the show, which sought to challenge the theory that human activity is the major cause of climate change and global warming, unfairly treated the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, former government chief scientist Sir David King and Professor Carl Wunsch.
In particular, the regulator decided that the programme made some significant allegations without offering an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond and in the case of Sir David King the programme makers also criticised him for comments he did not make.
Ofcom also ruled that the makers failed to include a wide range of significant views on climate change.
Channel 4 was not found to have broken rules during parts one to four of the programme, which focused on the scientific debate about the causes of global warming.
And while Ofcom had concerns about aspects of the presentation and omission of facts and views within the programme, it decided that this did not lead to the audience being materially misled.
Channel 4 must broadcast a summary of Ofcom's adjudications relating to the fairness complaints on Channel 4 and E4.