Councillor Critiques Misinformation Behind Dr. Happer’s Tour

A Southland regional councillor has accused both the advocacy group Groundswell NZ and physicist Dr. William Happer of spreading misinformation regarding climate change. Groundswell NZ is currently fundraising to support Dr. Happer’s tour in New Zealand. The 86-year-old physicist is known for his controversial stance that human activity is not a significant cause of climate change, advocating instead for the benefits of higher carbon dioxide levels and suggesting that global warming is a natural phenomenon.

In a statement, Environment Southland (ES) deputy chairman Phil Morrison expressed concern over Dr. Happer’s message, describing it as an example of “gaslighting.” He remarked, “The idea that we need not worry at all about greenhouse gases and the effect that they are imposing upon our climate… I think there is risk inherent in that.”

Dr. Happer previously served as senior director of the US National Security Council office for emerging technologies in 2018 but resigned the following year. Although Mr. Morrison noted that he is not a climate scientist, he has significant experience in the field, having co-chaired the Regional Climate Change Working Group.

The climate action initiative led by Environment Southland has received backing from the Invercargill City, Gore District, and Southland councils and has been active for three years. A survey conducted by the group in 2023 indicated that approximately 13% of Southland participants do not believe in climate change or the need for action against it. Mr. Morrison emphasized the importance of discernment in evaluating the information surrounding climate change, stating that with such a wide array of sources available, individuals must critically assess what they consider factual.

Dr. Happer’s upcoming visit is part of Groundswell’s campaign advocating for New Zealand’s withdrawal from the international climate action treaty, The Paris Agreement. The movement has garnered some political support, particularly from the Act Party and New Zealand First. However, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has rejected the idea, asserting that it would negatively impact farmers. The Federated Farmers organization has also opposed the call to withdraw from the global pact.

Despite the ongoing debate, the New Zealand government recently adjusted its target for animal-produced methane emissions, reducing the goal set for 2050 to a less ambitious level. Mr. Morrison commented on the varied conduct of advocacy groups, suggesting that not all engage in transparent practices. “I have a real reaction to disinformation… and I think we need to call it disinformation and misinformation more often,” he remarked.

The discussions surrounding Dr. Happer’s tour and the implications of Groundswell’s campaign highlight the ongoing tensions and divisions in New Zealand’s climate policy debate, illustrating the complexities of public discourse on environmental issues.