‘Less groupthink’: Abbott joins UK climate think tank

Tony Abbott calls for ‘genuine climate science’ and ‘a note of realism’ after joining the board of trustees of a UK think tank that challenges global warming policy.

Tony Abbott has joined a British think tank that challenges government climate policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called for “genuine science and less groupthink” on climate after joining the board of a British think tank that challenges government policy on global warming.

Mr Abbott is one of the Board of Trustees of the UK based charity, Global Warming Policy Foundation, which challenges “extremely damaging and harmful policies” of governments seeking to mitigate man-made global warming.

Mr Abbott said he was pleased to join GWPF “because it’s consistently injected a note of realism into the climate debate”.

The GWPF is a think tank founded by former Conservative chancellor Nigel Lawson, and set up to question government policy around climate change and investigate alternative views on the climate debate.

GWPF says its aim is to raise standards in learning and understanding through rigorous research and analysis, to help inform a balanced debate amongst the interested public and decision-makers and to foster a culture of open debate, tolerance and learning.

The GWPF’s associated entity, Net Zero Watch, monitors and researches the cost of achieving net zero.

Mr Abbott added: “All of us want to save the only planet we have but this should not be by means which impoverish poorer people in richer countries and hold poorer countries back. Right now, in countries like Australia, the impact of climate policy is to make electricity less affordable and less reliable rather than perceptibly to cool the planet. We need more genuine science and less groupthink in this debate – that’s where the GWPF has been a commendably consistent if lonely voice.”

GWPF chairman Dr Jerome Booth said Mr Abbott brings a global perspective and policy insight at the very highest level to the organisation.

“He will further assist our objectives and help our efforts to foster a culture of debate, respect and scrutiny in policy areas that are currently dominated by intolerance, high emotions, moral reasoning and confusion”, Dr Booth said.

Mr Abbott is also an advisor to the UK Board of Trade.