Benny Peiser

Learn more from the Center for Media and Democracy's research on climate change.

Benny Peiser

Benny Peiser is a UK social anthropologist on the Heartland Institute "Global warming experts" list. He runs CCNet (network) and is frequently quoted in Local Transport Today, a transport journal that frequently features the views of climate change skeptics.

Peiser makes invalid claims on climate change scientific consensus

Peiser's "claim to fame" in the war on climate change science was a 2005 study that he claimed refuted an earlier study by Dr. Naomi Oreskes.

Originally published in the prestigious publication, Science, the Oreskes study looked at 928 research papers on climate change and found that 100% agreed with the scientific consensus. Peiser originally stated in January 2005 that Oreskes was incorrect and that "in light of the data [Peiser] presented... Science should withdraw Oreskes's study and its results in order to prevent any further damage to the integrity of science. On October 12, 2006, Peiser admitted that only one of the research papers he used in his study refuted the scientific consensus on climate change, and that study was NOT peer-reviewed and was published by American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Peiser's incorrect claims were published in the Financial Post section of the National Post, in a May 17, 2005 commentary authored by Peiser himself.

Peiser states "an overwhelming majority of climatologists is agreed"

Peiser claims to be a climate change "skeptic," but on October 12, 2006 Peiser states: "I do not think anyone is questioning that we are in a period of global warming. Neither do I doubt that the overwhelming majority of climatologists is agreed that the current warming period is mostly due to human impact." However, he also states that "... this majority consensus is far from unanimous," and that "there is a small community of sceptical researchers that remains extremely active." [1]

Peiser is a Social Anthropologist, and not a Climate Scientist or Climate Policy Analysist

According to a search of 22,000 academic journals, Peiser has published 3 research papers in peer-reviewed journals: Sports Medicine, 2006; Journal of Sports Sciences (2004); and, Bioastronomy 2002: life among the stars (2004). None of these studies are related to human-induced climate change.

Peiser's departmental webpage describes him as:-

• Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology & Sport Sociology, Liverpool John Moores University
• Main research interests:
  • societal evolution and neo-catastrophism
  • social implications of historical impact disasters and the current impact hazard
  • ritualised and sanctioned violence
  • origins and evolution of sport

In an article on the BBC website he is describe as a 'Leading British anthropologist' and is quoted as saying "Apocalyptics typically exaggerate the possible dangers we may face in the future while ignoring or underestimating the probability of finding a social, technological or medical remedy for the predicament."

He runs CCNet (network) to counter 'doomsday scaremongering about the possible effects of climate change'.

However is frequently provides views on climate change science.

• "Throughout history, moderate warming has significantly contributed to enhanced living standards. ... Lamentably, many climate change researchers have exaggerated the potential health risks due to global warming."

• Failure at Copenhagen will be greeted with understandable despair by those people who have been convinced by the doomladen prophecies of numerous climate scientists, many journalists, most political leaders, and all ‘green’ pressure groups.

• Peiser is described by Local Transport Today as a 'climate policy analyist'.

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Global warming

External articles

• DeSmogBlog's research on Benny Peiser.
• David Whitehouse, "Scientists criticise Hawking 'hype'", BBC News online, October 17, 2001.
• wikipedia:Benny Peiser