http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=601497

Americans are trying to discredit me, claims Chief Scientist
By Steve Connor, Science Editor

17 January 2005

The Government's chief scientific adviser is being aggressively
targeted by American lobbyists trying to discredit his view that
man-made pollution is behind global warming.

In an interview with The Independent, Sir David King said he was being
followed around the world by people in the pay of vested-interest
groups that want to cast doubt on the science of climate change.

Last year, Sir David said the threat from global warming was greater
than that posed by international terrorism and he has criticised the
Bush administration for pulling out of the Kyoto treaty to limit
greenhouse gas emissions.

Since then, he has given many lectures to international audiences but
found individuals among them who are there solely to create the
impression that he is presenting biased information.

"They'll be in the audience to stand up and raise questions to get
into the audience's mind that I haven't represented a balanced view,"
he said.

"You have a group of lobbyists, some of whom are chasing me around the
planet, which I'm chuffed about because it means they are worrying
about what I'm saying, and these lobbyists stand up after I've given
an hour's talk and say, 'There are scientists who disagree with you',"
Sir David said.

"I always say, 'Which bit of the science that I've just presented to
you are you challenging'? I don't get the answer."

Last November, Myron Ebell, from a right-wing Washington think-tank
called the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said on BBC Radio 4 that
Sir David is an "alarmist with ridiculous views who knows nothing
about climate change".