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The most recent of these open letters was the World Climate Declaration, signed by over 800 scientists and professionals late last year. Titled, “THERE IS NO CLIMATE EMERGENCY,” these experts assert:

— CO 2 is plant food, the basis of all life on Earth. CO 2 is not a pollutant… More CO 2 is favourable for nature, greening our planet…It is also profitable for agriculture, increasing the yields of crops worldwide.

— There is no statistical evidence that global warming is intensifying hurricanes, floods, droughts and suchlike natural disasters, or making them more frequent. However, there is ample evidence that CO 2 -mitigation measures are as damaging as they are costly.

— There is no cause for panic and alarm. We strongly oppose the harmful and unrealistic net-zero CO 2 policy proposed for 2050. Go for adaptation instead of mitigation; adaptation works whatever the causes are.

In other words, essentially what Moore has been saying all along.

Contacted for comment about the controversy, Moore asked: “What exactly are they afraid of? If my arguments are weak or obviously incorrect, everyone would see that.”

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The outrage of environmental extremists that Moore be included in the conference shows precisely why he should have been speaking at the event. Activists apparently forget, or perhaps never knew, that a hallmark of good science is an open mindedness to alternative points of view. We progress, not by meekly agreeing with fashionable paradigms, but by vigorous, open debate among parties of good will.

The City of Regina had the chance to set a good example for the country about the importance of listening to well-founded alternative points of view on environmental issues. But they blew it.

— Tom Harris is executive director of the Ottawa-based International Climate Science Coalition, which opposes the hypothesis carbon dioxide emissions from human activities are known to cause climate problems.