Fragile facts, climate time lie take 2

Update 2/7/2013: ABC provide the following regarding errors and omissions in this propaganda piece:

In summary, five captions have been corrected or modified. Of these: two were editing errors – captions 4# and 8#; one was the addition of extra information to avoid ambiguity – caption 1#; others were the inclusion of qualifications to reflect the uncertainties in predictions and analysis of past events – caption 2#; and finally one was an editing error and a decision to include a different estimate – caption 13#.

Remember Ian Allen stated "Captions were checked are consistent with the weight of scientific evidence." Crap they they were. Expect better next time you spend public money on propaganda Mr Allen..

In round up 3, we raised the issue of ABC science promoting a photo essay by activist organisation, The Climate Institute. We posed the following questions to the ABC:

This photo essay is a promotion for the Climate Institute.

Is the ABC now providing free advertising for the Climate Institute?

Can the ABC clarify its relation with the  climate institute?

and got the following response:

The editor of the portal advises that the photo essay was chosen for it aesthetic qualities and editorial relevance to the site. No money was exchanged and the publication did not constitute advertising. Normal photo credits were published in line with standard procedures among publishers.

The ABC has no special relationship with the Climate Institute. It is treated the same as any other research or policy centre.

We posed a follow up:

Can the editor please outline why he/she felt this was relevant to the Science site? 

Did ABC check the captions for accuracy?

To which Ian Allen Executive Producer, Content, ABC Innovation responded thus:

ABC Corporate Affairs asked me to respond to your enquiry.

The photo gallery was published because it was topical (World Environment day) and because of the quality of the images. Captions were checked are consistent with the weight of scientific evidence.

Looking closely at the captions we found a few problems that suggests very little attention was paid to checking the accuracy. We have requested ABC to address these. Looks like another Climate Time Lie...

Errors and misrepresentation in captions to “Fragile World” presented on ABC Science June 2013.

Photo 1.

Caption: Haifoss, Iceland. High tension power cables snake above an apparently pristine environment. Iceland relies on hydroelectricity for clean energy, but declining runoff may affect the future energy supply. (The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

Errors and omissions:

“Iceland relies on hydroelectricity for clean energy”. Iceland’s main energy source is from geothermal sources: from Wikipedia: “About 81 percent of total primary energy supply in Iceland is derived from domestically produced renewable energy sources. In 2007, geothermal energy provided about 66 percent of primary energy, the share of hydropower was 15 percent, and fossil fuels (mainly oil) 19 percent.” However most of Iceland’s electricity is derived from hydropower: from Wikipedia: Renewable energy provides 100 percent of electricity production, with about 70 percent coming from hydropower and 30 percent from geothermal power”.  To say “Iceland relies on hydroelectricity for clean energy” is an oversimplification of the facts.

“declining runoff may affect the future energy supply”. This would be true if runoff were in fact declining.  One study suggests the follow in terms of long term run off from melt water: “Meltwater runoff is expected to increase initially, but to peak after 40–50 years and then to decline to present-day values 100 years from now.” Icelandic glaciers. Helgi Björnsson and Finnur Pálsson JÖKULL No. 58, 2008, pp365-385.

Another study  indicates “ River runoff is projected to increase by 25% between 1961--1900 and 2071--2100, mainly due to increased melting of glaciers.”

Melt water run off from glaciers provides one source of water to drive hydro plants the other is rainfall. If alarmist climate models are correct then Iceland’s glaciers will eventually disappear. However the models that forecast increased temperatures also forecast increases in rainfall over Iceland. See image below from IPCC AR4. Note Iceland in area where models show a precipitation increase in >66% to >90% of simulations.

One would think that construction of dams to capture this rainfall would be one means of ensuring adequate water to drive hydrothermal power plants more than 100 years in the future.

Conclusion. Potential long term decline in runoff from glaciers is just one factor in Iceland’s hydro energy mix. The caption is overly simplistic and design to elicit an emotional response. This caption is propaganda and ABC’s Science unit should be embarrassed to have run it without clarification.

Photo 2.

Lake Hume, Australia. Crazed mud and skeletal trees create a stark landscape after severe drought. The Millennium drought, which ran from 1995 to 2012, was the worst recorded since settlement. It cost the Federal Government some $4.5 billion in assistance. In southern Australia, rainfall is in decline, while heat waves and drought are becoming more frequent. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

Errors and omissions:

“The Millennium drought, which ran from 1995 to 2012”. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural

and Resource Economics and Sciences provide the following table for drought in Australia form a 2012 report titled: “Drought in Australia Context, policy and management”. This does not show a drought extending from 1995 to 2012.

“It cost the Federal Government some $4.5 billion in assistance”. This statement appears to be derived from Wikipedia. The estimate is derived from a newspaper article in The Age published in 2012 which states: “Since 2001 the government has provided $4.5 billion in exceptional circumstances (EC) assistance.” The amount therefore omits assistance provided in the years 1995 to 2001. The cost is obviously more than the stated figure. The document Drought Policy in Australia provides the following chart of exceptional circumstances payments. This suggests a figure of about $725 million paid between 1994-1995 and 2000-2001. The corrected figure should therefore read “about $5.25 billion”

“In southern Australia, rainfall is in decline.” In fact the long term trend is on the increase for southern Australia and for Australia as a whole. From BOM time series graphs.

“while heat waves and drought are becoming more frequent.”

Heat waves: an alternate image of heatwave impacts:

Take a boat trip: holidaymakers relax on Trigg Beach in WA after record temperatures in 2007. Photo: Stewart Allen/Perth Now

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/news/gallery-fn78rwin-1226549358655?page=8#ixzz2WjAZSGJG

Drought not becoming more frequent, note higher frequency between 1890s and 1940s in the figure below.

From http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/files/indian_graph_download.JPG

Conclusion: some significant factual errors that require correction.

Photo3.

Anti Atlas, Morocco. Studies show Morocco will be among countries most threatened by climate change, with more frequent droughts and a shorter crop growing season. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

“more frequent droughts and a shorter crop growing season” This is based on projections derived from climate models. How are those models tracking?

Based on this how reliable are the forecast changes to climate in Morocco?

Conclusion: The statement “more frequent droughts and a shorter crop growing season”, does not provide a sense of the uncertainty in projections of future climate based on model outputs. The statement in its current form is therefore misleading and require qualification. For example  “Climate models predict more frequent droughts and a shorter crop growing season, however concerns about the validity of climate models suggest significant uncertainty with this prediction.”

Photo 4.

Hvalnes, Iceland. Global warming is already having a profound effect on glaciers worldwide and threatening to melt permafrost with serious consequences for wildlife and people. Climate change may cause all of Iceland's glaciers to disappear by 2100. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

“Climate change may cause all of Iceland's glaciers to disappear by 2100.”

Conclusion: This is a ridiculous exaggeration. “Plausible future climate scenarios, coupled with models of mass balance and ice dynamics, suggest that the main icecaps will lose 25% to 35% of their present volume within half a century, leaving only small glaciers on the highest peaks after 150–200 years.” Icelandic glaciers. Helgi Björnsson and Finnur Pálsson JÖKULL No. 58, 2008, pp365-385.

See also http://www.vedur.is/media/vedurstofan/utgafa/hlidarefni/Tomas_COP-15.pdf where glaciers are expected to be present more than 200years into the future.

Photo 5.

Newcastle, Australia. The MV Pasha Bulka, a coal carrier that ran aground on Nobbies beach during a storm 2007. While this single event cannot be attributed to climate change, the intensity of tropical cyclones is predicted to increase in the future. (The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

Conclusion: The 2007 storm was an east coast low and not a tropical cyclone. See the CSIRO publication: “The Pasha Bulker east coast low of 8 June 2007” It is misleading therefore to link the grounding of the Pasha Bulka with Tropical Cyclones. Furthermore the caption is misleading in omitting information about future cyclone activity. BOM for instance provide the following information about current trends:  Trends in tropical cyclone activity in the Australian region (south of the equator; 90–160°E) show that the total number of cyclones appears to have decreased to the mid 1980s, and remained nearly stable since. The number of severe tropical cyclones (minimum central pressure less than 970 hPa) shows no clear trend over the past 40 years. And indicate the following (see 5.9.1) about future trends: Australian region studies indicate a likely increase in the proportion of the tropical cyclones in the more intense categories, but a possible decrease in the total number of cyclones. Again these trends are based on climate model outputs that are currently proving unreliable (see Photo 3).

Photo 6.

Jokulsarlon, Iceland. The 8,100 square kilometre Vatnajokull ice cap, where these ice fragments originated, is the largest ice cap in Europe and is fast retreating as the climate warms. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

“largest ice cap in Europe” This is misleading. ABC provide an area but the the Jokulsarlon Glacier is the largest by volume. The largest by area in Europe the Austfonna icecap in Norway at 8,105 km2 (8,492 km2 including Vegavonna).

Conclusion: some significant factual errors that require clarification.

Photo 7.

Victoria, Australia. Drought, fierce winds and 47 degree Celsius temperatures led to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfire, which killed over 170 people and millions of animals and plants. The intensity and frequency of bushfire conditions is rising in south-eastern Australia. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

“The intensity and frequency of bushfire conditions is rising in south-eastern Australia.”

CSIRO tells a different story: “Since European settlement, the total amount of fire in the landscape has declined. The bush land areas and particularly those around Sydney, New South Wales, have thickened and accumulated more fuel. As a result, the infrequent fires that now occur under extreme weather burn much more intensely and have a significant impact on the built environment.”

Conclusion: Significant over simplification of the science clarification required.

Photo 8.

Tasmania, Australia. Old growth deforestation in the Upper Florentine 70 kilometres from Hobart. Deforestation releases around 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air each year. Curbing deforestation and restoring forests are a key means of avoiding dangerous climate change. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

“Deforestation releases around 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air each year.” This statement appears to be a misrepresentation of a wikipedia entry. The Wikipedia entry on deforestation states: “Scientists also state that tropical deforestation releases 1.5 billion tons of carbon each year into the atmosphere.^[45] “ Of course 1.5 billion tonnes of C would equate to about 5.5 billion tonnes of CO2. A simple error but one commonly made. Surprising to find ABC Science accepted an these at face value.

Based on a 2009 article in Nature Geoscience it appears the figure of 1.5 billion tonnes of C has been revised down to 1.2bt, which would equate to about 4 billion tonnes of CO2.

Conclusion: factual error requiring correction, clarification required.

Photo 9.

Yangtze River delta, China. The muddied waters attest to the loss of topsoil upriver. Greater China accounts for 30 per cent of the global volume of containerised exports. Emissions from shipping are currently some 1 billion tonnes annually. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

 “Emissions from shipping are currently some 1 billion tonnes annually” presumably this refers to CO2. This figure differs from official figures released by the International Maritime Organisation who provide the following information: “According to the Second IMO GHG Study 2009, which is the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the level of GHG emitted by ships, international shipping was estimated to have emitted 870 million tonnes, or about 2.7% of the global man-made emissions of CO2 in 2007. Exhaust gases are the primary source of GHG emissions from ships and carbon dioxide is the most important GHG, both in terms of quantity and of global warming potential.”

Conclusion: factual error requiring correction.

Photo 10.

A man works bailing discarded plastic in Hubei Province, Central China. A significant proportion of plastic dumped in landfills ends up in the sea, injuring and killing marine wildlife. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

No comments.

Photo 11.

Brahman cattle in the Northern Territory, Australia. Emissions from livestock account for approximately 10 per cent of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, livestock health is likely to be impacted by rising temperatures and changed weather patterns. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

No comments

Photo 12.

The Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Up to 850,000 ounces of gold are taken from this mine each year. The hole is approximately 3.7 kilometres long, 1.5 kilometres wide and 480 metres deep, big enough to bury Uluru. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

No comment.

Photo 13.

Latrobe Valley, Australia. Loy Yang Power Station emits 14.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases each year. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

“Loy Yang Power Station emits 14.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.”

There are two Power stations at Loy Yang A and B. AGL provide the following information about Loy Yang A: The Loy Yang A Power Station has a carbon intensity of around 1.3 tCO2e/MWh. In 2011 Loy Yang A produced 14,925 GWh (=14925000MWh)  of life enhancing electricity. Based on the stated carbon intensity figures this would amount to a potential CO2 output of 19.4 million tonnes. Clearly the figures provided by the Carbon Institute are a little out.

Conclusion: factual error requiring correction.

Photo 14.

Oil wells in California. Last year some $674billion was spent to find and develop new fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas. Much of this must stay in the ground if we are to have a good chance of avoiding global warming of 2 degrees Celsius. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

“avoiding global warming of 2 degrees Celsius” This appears to be based on faulty climate sensitivity figures. Recent estimates of the climate’s sensitivity to CO2 suggest previous estimates are exaggerated. This buys much more time to alter energy sources in the future. The caption grossly over simplifies  issue.

Photo 15.

Wind turbines in Southern California. In 2011, for the first time, investments in renewable energy sources outstripped those in fossil fuels. Over the long term, investment in clean energy shows strong long-term growth and is projected to reach $630 billion annually by 2030, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. (Creative Fellow at The Climate Institute: Michael Hall)

No comment.

A climate time lie - saga continues

Cobalt. According to ABC the cause of Ocean Acidification

ABC have indicated they will not adjudicate on our complaint about the 30 additional errors in its presentation "A journey through climate history". They did indicate that the list was passed onto the editorial team whom we hope will be busy making corrections.

Received 9/9/2010

Audience & Consumer Affairs (A&CA) have reaffirmed that they will not accept your complaint for review, given:

-          the considerable resources already spent on dealing with your complaints about this item

-          the significant lapse of time since the item was researched, compiled and published; and

-          the nature of your most recent complaint does not merit further commitment of A&CA investigative resources.

However, your comments have been relayed to the relevant editorial team for their information.

Accordingly, in the absence of a new investigation by A&CA - a decision clearly based on the provisions of the ABC’s Editorial Policies and supported by the Complaints Review Executive (CRE) - there is no further reason for the CRE to respond.

To which we replied:
Thanks for your reply. As previously stated, given the seriousness of the errors and possibility that the presentation will mislead and misinform ABC's Audience, I will take the matter up with the relevant minister and opposition spokesperson. Again, I find it surprising that ABC will not take the opportunity to make the corrections. You may recall I pointed out in my first compliant that the presentation should be subject to an extensive review and it is disappointing that ABC have never taken the opportunity to carry one out. Of course had the necessary resources been expended conducting a proper review of the production prior to publication we would not be having this exchange.

We have sent a letter to the Minister for Communications. Here's an extract.
"Given the seriousness of the errors and possibility that the presentation will mislead and misinform ABC's Audience, including school students I find it surprising that ABC will not take the opportunity to make the corrections.

My simple request is that if ABC wish to continue to promote the presentation it make the simple corrections required. Can you as Minister please ensure ABC make the necessary changes."

More errors in ABC's climate time lie-Cobalt the new terror

In our initial complaint to the ABC regarding its web presentation "A journey through climate history" we indicated the timeline was "riddled with errors". We provided ABC with a list of 12 items that required attention. ABC subsequently made 7 corrections, but made no changes to sections we considered biased. We suggested that the Timeline undergo a rigorous review to pick up other problems "A thorough audit of the content is required." 

Here are 30 additional mistakes for ABC to correct. The most telling probably being the confusion between the symbols for Cobalt  (Co) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). In its defective timeline ABC blame Cobalt for ocean acidification, the enhanced greenhouse effect and suggest the world is endeavouring to sequester Cobalt underground. It also seems the Keeling curve is also not a measure of carbon dioxide but of the rare Cobalt compound Co2!
There is also confusion between paleoanthropologists and archeologists; confusion between the roles of geology and archeology; confusion between the location of Vostok and Law Dome bases in Antarctica; along with software glitches that reveal an infinitely old universe, and numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes. "Riddled with errors"is an understatement.

30 additional errors - A Journey through climate history 

1. Under section “Deep Time” it is possible to scroll the timeline over 1000 billion years into the past (screenshot right). Current estimates for the age of the universe are two orders of magnitude less. That is some software glitch. 
2. Cryogenian Ice Age: Missing apostrophe, missing capitalization “earths orbit” 
3. Carboniferous Period: Missing apostrophe “weve” 
4. Karoo Ice Age: Inconsistency between statements of causation of glaciers between the Huronian Ice Age and the Karoo Ice Age. 
5. KT Boundary: “the KT boundary is an archeological term” the term is in fact geological. Also missing plural “researcher” 
6. Antarctic Ice Sheets: missing capitalization “the” 
7. Homo Habilis and Homo Ergaster: extraneous “-” in “hand-y man”. Discovered by paleoanthropologists not archeologists. 
8. Pleistocene Glaciations: The pattern of temperature, CO2 and methane follow an almost identical pattern, however changes in temperature precede changes in CO2 and methane concentrations by about 1000 years. 
9. Mount “Tobra” eruption: Should be “Toba”. Ice ages last longer than “6 years” 
10. Art and culture: unnecessary question mark “verbal? language” 
11. Olmec Culture: unnecessary capitalization “Volcanic” 
12. Carbon dioxide level 1000AD: Readability-“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
13. Carbon dioxide level 1250AD: Readability-“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements” Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
14. Carbon dioxide level 1500AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
15. Carbon dioxide level 1750AD: Readability -“CO2 Measure” should read “CO2 measurement”. Also, unnecessary capitalization “Measure”; and misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
16. Human population is 978 million (1800): shows a photo of Istanbul from 1880-1900 when world population is estimated at 1.65 billion. 
17. Carbon dioxide level 1800AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
18. Carbon dioxide level 1850AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
19. Ocean pH level is 8.17: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
20. Carbon dioxide level 1900AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
21. Nitrogen Fertilizers 1913: Suggests the Habar Bosch process has increased Cobalt levels. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
22. Ocean pH level is 8.15: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
23. Carbon dioxide level 1950AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
24. 1958 The Keeling Curve: Does not measure atmospheric Cobalt levels. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
25. Ocean pH level is 8.12: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
26. Human population is 6 billion: Spelling “grown” should read “growth”. World population from 1800 to 1900 grew by about 170%, not 69%. 
27. Carbon capture and storage: Implies Cobalt being captured and stored. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
28. Ocean pH level is 8.09: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
29. The Kyoto Protocal. As far as we know the only organisation that can ratify the treaty is a nation state, use of the word “parties” in this context is not appropriate. 
30. The Great Global Warming Swindle: Capitalisation – “channel 4” should read “Channel 4”.

Last word on ABC's Climate Time-lie: "Ordovian"

ABC's final word on its Climate Timeline

“incompetence has become the chief characteristic of journalism, displacing laziness”

after Kingsley Amis

ABC's biased timeline

UPDATE ABC PRESS RELEASE HERE, LINK TO FULL REPORT PDF HERE

ABC sent us a copy of the "Independent" complaints review panel (ICRP) report into our complaints about ABC online feature "A journey through climate history". Remarkably the report found the presentation was indeed biased "Therefore, individual material and its links can lack impartiality in its presentation."
Sarc on - Yes our climate timeline is as biased and unbalanced as a Kerry O'Brien interview, but what are you going to do about it? Send a complaint to the "I"CRP? Sarc off
Due to FOI legislation we can't even request information used to produce the presentation. Remember this was put together using tax payers dollars.
Unbelievably ABC "I"CRP did not uphold the complaint as it claimed that the rest of ABC's climate coverage is balanced (even ABC's Chairman Maurice Newman  disputes this). ABC somehow even believes that its audience members will take the time to read and understand the implications of the presentation's fine print: "Whilst the ABC cannot guarentee the accuracy of information external to the timeline, we have endeavoured to provide accurate and relevant links wherever possible". With 7 errors already noted ABC can't even get its timeline right, let alone the links, none of which are critical of the IPCC's position.
We argued that the links for the feature page on the medieval warm period, that ABC initially placed in the wrong year, were biased. We did not request that the ABC remove these links, simply that they add one that provides an alternate viewpoint inline with ABC's commitment to impartiality. This was  CO2 science's Medieval Warm Period Project that has collated over 500 studies that demonstrate world wide effects of the MWP.  However Groupthinking ABC public servants have left its audience with three highly biased references-Real Climate, Wikipedia and a blog piece that features the debunked hockey stick graph. None of these now even support ABC's text that had to be amended following errors identified in our initial complaint.
We now invite readers to take a closer look at ABC's presentation and if they find further errors, please take the time to inform the ABC about them.

Update: ABC claimed its timeline didn't count as news so could not be assessed under section 5 of its editorial policies. If our complaint had been assessed under section 5 ABC would have been upheld the complaint as the ICRP agrees the timeline is biased. Here are a few more non news timelines recently posted by the ABC as news:
Women in power: Gillard joins burgeoning club

Timeline: Rudd's rise and fall

NEWSFLASH-ICRP findings -A Journey through climate history

Screen shots from ABC's A journey through climate history. Note the different treatment given to Al Gore's Film as opposed to the documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle". No mention of the British court case that found errors in Al Gore's movie. This formed one of our complaints of bias.

NEWSFLASH. ABC will shortly be posting a media release about the results of the Independent Complaints Review Panel's deliberations on our complaint of bias in ABC's A Journey through climate history (or the climate time lie). ABC require confirmation that complainants have received a copy of the complaint prior to its formal release of the report on the ABC website. Here's a copy of a letter sent to Mark Scott ABC Managing Director. The complaint was not upheld, we assume the full report will be available soon and we will post further when ABC make it available. It certainly makes for an interesting insight into ABC's bureaucracy. UPDATE-scanned copy reproduced below.

RE: ICRP Report: A journey through climate history.

Dear Mr Scott,

Just a short note to inform you I have received your letter of the 16 August relating to the ICRP report about ABC Online’s “A journey through climate history”.

I note that the report supports my contention that “A journey through climate history” provides a biased view of climate change events, and had the complaint been weighed under ABC editorial policies Section 5, it appears the complaint would have been upheld.

The ICRP report contends the biased view in “A journey through climate history” is balanced by other coverage provided by the ABC and as such, under section 7, lack of balance in this case is provided for under the pretext that ABC maintains “balance” from a network perspective. However given ABC’s Chairman Maurice Newman’s recent comments that ABC’s coverage of climate change amounted to “Groupthink” and based on my own investigations (ABC New Watch) I see little to indicate ABC has provided balanced coverage on this issue. “A Journey through climate history” merely serves to confirm ABC’s Groupthink position on climate change.

As an example of continued Groupthink I note ABC comments to the panel to specific omissions from the timeline on page 5 of the report. In relation to the Ordovician Glaciations (which ABC omitted from the Timeline) ABC claim “that scientists no longer consider there to be any inconsistency between the carbon dioxide record and the timing of the Ordovician ice age.” ABC quote a New Scientist article in support. I attach a recent paper published in the peer reviewed journal Geology that clearly shows, contrary to ABC opinion, there remains considerable debate on this point. We find it troubling, but not surprising, that the ABC have sought to mislead the panel on this point.

ABC’s latest promotion invites Australian’s to join the conversation. I’m not sure Australian’s want to be part of such a one sided conversation. As Maurice Newman stated:

“At the ABC, I believe we must re-energise the spirit of enquiry.  Be dynamic and challenging – to look for contrary points of view, to ensure that the maverick voice will not be silenced.  There should be no public perception that there is such a thing as an “ABC view” – we must be neither believers nor atheists but agnostics who acknowledge people have a right to make up their own minds.”

(The attached report is: Did intense volcanism trigger the first Late Ordovician icehouse? Geology; April 2010; v. 38; no. 4; p. 327-330; DOI: 10.1130/G30577.1)


Scanned ICRP report below:

The report was written by "team" member Susan Brooks.

Update:A climate time lie: the saga continues

 COMMENT: We have received a reply from the ABC's Complaints Review Executive regarding our complaint about ABC's 'A journey through climate change history’ (see below0 . Not surprisingly the CRE have not upheld our complaint stating "Having reviewed the content, the complaint and the responses from A&CA, I consider that ABC editorial requirements were met." The review rested on use of section 7.4.1 that relies on a diversity of views across a platform, allowing single programs or articles to be as biased or unbalanced. It remains our contention that it is unfair to expect that readers of ‘A journey through climate change history’ would be familiar with the discussion that has taken place about Climate Change on the ABC. The presentation is a stand alone site. People new to the site would be significantly misled if the web presentation is not altered as it provides an un-balanced representation of the debate. Continued linkage to the ABC News page provides justification to consider the site under provision of Section 5-news content. CRE didn't address our complaint in detail, passing over the specific points raised. These included:


4. I understand 'A Journey through Climate History' is not intended as an exhaustive timeline of every single climatic event in Earth's history. I am advised that the Ordovician ice age was not included in the timeline due to its relative brevity, and not because of any 'inconvenient truth', as you suggest. Audience & Consumer Affairs does not believe the omission of this ice age from the timeline was inconsistent with the ABC's editorial standards.

While “brief” the Ordovician Ice Age is of great significance in the current debate as the Ice Age is thought to have occurred at a time when CO2 levels were as high 4000 ppm. Its "relative brevity" is irrelevant and it should be included in the timeline to provide readers with a more balanced picture of the role of CO2 on climate. 

5b. Once again, as with point 4, it is relevant to note that it is not the intention of the website to provide an exhaustive timeline of all historical climatic events. I understand ABC Innovation considers that it was acceptable to include the most recent warm period, the Medieval Warm Period, and not include the Roman Warm Period. Audience & Consumer Affairs does not believe this omission was inconsistent with relevant editorial standards.

Roman Warm Period coincided with the height of the Roman Empire. This is as relevant than other historical events in the timeline.

6. We acknowledge that the placement of the Medieval Warm Period at 700 AD in the timeline was inaccurate and inconsistent with the event description, which refers to the period "between AD 800 1300". It has been moved to 800.

We also acknowledge that the statement in the entry, "the idea that it was a global phenomenon is now discredited and it is suspected that the average global temperature could have been slightly cooler than in the early 20th century" overstated the certainty of the current understanding of the Medieval Warm Period. The entry has been amended to reflect the current level of uncertainty as to whether the phenomenon was global, based on IPCC reports.

The timeline continues to promote references that bias one side of the debate of the extent of the Medieval Warm Period. Where are references that highlight the broad nature of warming during the Medieval Warm Period such as reference to CO2science's  Medieval Warm Period Project?

http://www.co2science.org/data/mwp/mwpp.php

10. We do not believe it was necessary for the timeline entry on An Inconvenient Truth to mention the errors found in the Dimmock case in the UK. The entry described the film as "controversial", ensuring that users are aware that it was subject to controversy. It is relevant to note that a link was provided to the Wikipedia page about the film, which discusses the Dimmock case at some length. On review, we are satisfied that the entry was consistent with the editorial standard for accuracy.

Note the way The Great Global Warming Swindle is treated for comparison. ABC do not stop at merely mentioning it was controversial but go into great detail about the subsequent Ofcom inquiry. Any reasonable consideration of these two popular documentaries would treat them equally.

11. Once again, the timeline is not intended to be exhaustive and does not contain every climate-related event in human history. Audience & Consumer Affairs does not believe the omission of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) report to which you refer was inconsistent with relevant editorial standards.

Omissions are just as significant as inclusions. The overall impression is that the producers of the timeline are biased by not including mention of the NIPCC report. In the context of the history of Climate Change it is a significant development.

Significantly no one in the ABC has investigated the correspondence leading to the production of the presentation in the first place. Our own attempts to source these documents were prevented by draconian FOI legislation that exempts ABC from FOI requests for production material.  Still wondering if there is a brave whistle blower in ABC innovation willing to reveal the details of what went on.

We now explore the next avenue available to us the ABC Independent Complaints Review Panel (ICRP).  appointed by the ABC Board to review written complaints which relate to allegations of serious cases of factual inaccuracy, bias, lack of balance or unfair treatment arising from ABC content. We will let you the outcome.

The CRE reply is posted in full below:


REVIEW OF COMPLAINT
Background
A request for review was received on 18 February 2010 from a New South Wales user of abc.net.au who was dissatisfied with responses from Audience and Consumer Affairs (A&CA). It was acknowledged on 19 February with advice that the review would be completed by 18 March. This was delayed slightly as further correspondence occurred between the complainant and A&CA arising from his letter to this office.
Content
‘A Journey through Climate History’ is produced by ABC Innovation and was first published on 8 December 2009 as part of a new environment portal. It is also linked to the ABC News site.
Correspondence
The complainant wrote on 16 December 2009 that the timeline was ‘riddled with errors’. He sent other emails on 10 January adding to the list of what he considered errors and on 24 January asking for the cost of producing the website. In summary the complainant raised 13 concerns about the content. A&CA completed their investigation and responded on 15 February with advice that the content was assessed against section 7 of ABC Editorial Policies applicable to topical and factual content. In part this requires that every reasonable effort must be made to ensure that factual content is accurate and in context. The response from A&CA confirmed seven inaccuracies and several spelling mistakes. The complainant was also advised that the ‘Journey’ was not intended to be an exhaustive timeline so it did not include every aspect of climate change.
In response to the complainant’s request for information on the cost of producing the website A&CA advised that they were not in a position to provide that information and pointed to the ABC’s Annual Report which
includes general expenditure details.

On 15 February the complainant wrote to this office seeking a review. As his letter also raised claims of bias that had not been included in the initial complaints about the website, the letter were referred back to A&CA which is standard practice.
A&CA then investigated the claims of bias and wrote on 18 March that requirements of Editorial Policy 7.4.1 were met. A&CA pointed out that a range of views on the topic had been presented by ABC Online. On 18 March the complainant advised that he also wanted his claims of bias reviewed. On 19 March the complainant wrote to this office basically repeating five points that he had made earlier to A&CA. He concluded:
‘In summary it is unfair to expect the users of ‘A journey through climate change history’ would be familiar with the wide ranging discussion that has taken place about Climate Change on the ABC. People new to the debate would be significantly misled if the web presentation is not altered . . . ‘
Basis of Assessment
The ‘Journey through Climate History’ website is categorised by ABC Innovation as topical and factual content and required to meet standards set out in section 7 of ABC Editorial Policies. Given the complainant’s concerns about accuracy I have considered the matter against 7.4.2:
(a) Every reasonable effort must be made to ensure that factual content is accurate and in context.
(b) The ABC will not hesitate to admit and correct a significant error when it is established that one has been made. When a correction is necessary, it will be made in an appropriate manner as soon as reasonably practicable.
As the complainant has also sought review of the A&CA response to his later claims of bias, I have considered this against 7.4.1.
The ABC is committed to impartiality: where topical and factual content deals with a matter of contention or public debate, a diversity of principal relevant perspectives should be demonstrated across a network or platform in an appropriate timeframe.
Assessment
Through its topical and factual content the ABC reflects a wide range of audience interests and deals with specialist topics like science in a range of formats such as websites. In this case the content was produced by ABC Innovation, and although the website is linked to the ABC News site, the editorial standards for news and current affairs content do not apply.

I note that the response from A&CA, dated 15 February, acknowledged several inaccuracies and spelling mistakes on the website. Therefore there is no need for me to reconsider all the claims of inaccuracy. The response also explained that amendments had been made. ABC Innovation management
has confirmed that corrections to the website were made on 12 and 15 February.
I consider that the A&CA investigation of the content leading to the written confirmation of inaccuracies, and the modifications made to the website made by ABC Innovation, meet the requirements to admit errors and make corrections as detailed in 7.4.2(b).
I note the complainant’s argument that more material should have been included in the timeline. As mentioned earlier, the current ABC Editorial Policies approved by the ABC Board do not require balance in topical and
factual content. Rather the focus is on impartiality. As explained in 7.4.1 impartiality is demonstrated by the provision of a diversity of principal relevant perspectives about contentious matters across a platform in an
appropriate timeframe. However there is no requirement to present every viewpoint or treat them in the same way.
In this case the issue of climate change is clearly a matter of contention and public debate and the platform in question is abc.net.au. My research has found that the ABC’s website does present a diversity of principal relevant perspectives on climate history and therefore meets the requirement of 7.4.1.
I also note the complainant’s view that ‘omissions are just as significant a inclusions’ and his concern that some climate events were not included on the timeline. The introduction page on the website states:
‘The events that appear throughout the timeline are intended to introduce you to the greater scope of research and context that exists outside this summary. Please follow the links that are provided in the short descriptions of events, for further information. Whilst the ABC cannot guarantee the accuracy of information external to the timeline, we have endeavoured to provide accurate and relevant links wherever possible.
In my view the introduction makes it clear to the average reader that the timeline does not include every aspect of climate through history. It actually encourages users of ABC Online to do more research and read more widely.
In my view this is appropriate recognition that an expansive issue like the history of climate cannot be addressed in a single website.

Given the amount of material about climate available on the ABC website, I do not consider that readers are being misled, as argued by the complainant.
Finding
Having reviewed the content, the complaint and the responses from A&CA, I consider that ABC editorial requirements were met. Noting the findings of inaccuracy already advised by A&CA, this review does not find other aspects of the complaint to be upheld.

COMPLAINTS REVIEW EXECUTIVE
25 March 2010

Update: Climate time lie queries on going

COMMENT: ABC Audience and consumer affairs appear to have finalised their deliberations regarding potential bias with a number of items from the ABC's web presentation "A journey through climate history" -(see below). In our view the suggestion that the content of this particular web presentation has been balanced by debate elsewhere on the ABC is not merited. Without the proposed amendments there remains significant potential that viewers of the web presentation will be mislead by its content. As such we have referred the complaint on to the ABC Complaints Review Executive.


Related posts include:
A climate time lie-ABC post corrections but questions remain

Climate time line or time lie - a response

Climate time line or time lie?

'A Journey through Climate History' - concerns of bias

Audience & Consumer Affairs has now investigated the concerns of bias raised in your correspondence to the CRE.

As explained in previous correspondence, 'A Journey through Climate History' is categorised as topical and factual content and is required to adhere to the requirements of section 7 of the Editorial Policies. It is not subject to any specific requirement to avoid bias or achieve balance. However, it is subject to section 7.4.1 of the Editorial Policies, which states as follows:

"The ABC is committed to impartiality: where topical and factual content deals with a matter of contention or public debate, a diversity of principal relevant perspectives should be demonstrated across a network or platform in an appropriate timeframe."

We have considered the issues numbered 4, 6, 10 and 11 against this requirement. Additionally, as issue 6 relates to the viewpoints represented in links, we have considered it against section 18.6 of the Editorial Policies, which states as follows:

"When providing links, ABC Online will aim to link to sites representing a range of views. The inclusion, placement and commentary for all links to external web sites will be at the discretion of the ABC. ABC Online is not, and should not be seen to be, dependent on commercial or other interests."

I will address each issue in turn below:

4. I note your view that the Ordovician ice age should be included in the timeline "to provide readers with a more balanced picture of the role of CO2 on climate". Audience & Consumer Affairs acknowledges that the relationship between carbon dioxide and climate change is a matter of some contention within the community. However, in our view a wide range of perspectives has been presented on this subject across the ABC Online platform in recent times, and there was no requirement for the timeline to include the Ordovician ice age in order for platform impartiality to be achieved.

6. I understand you consider that the links provided in the 'Links to more information' section of the Medieval Warm Period entry "bias one side of the debate". The section includes three links: one to the Wikipedia entry about the Medieval Warm Period; one to an article entitled 'Weren’t temperatures warmer than today during the “Medieval Warm Period”?' on the website RealClimate; and one to an article by Dr Ron Nielsen entitled 'Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age Myths'.

Audience & Consumer Affairs does not consider that the provision of links to external websites amounts to the presentation of perspectives for the purposes of section 7.4.1 of the Editorial Policies. Consequently, in our view, the absence of the particular links to which you refer cannot amount to any breach of section 7.4.1.

Having regard to the content of the three sites, Audience & Consumer Affairs considers that a range of views is represented, in accordance with section 18.6 of the Editorial Policies. Although other viewpoints exist on the Medieval Warm Period, such as those of expressed on the CO2 Science website to which you refer, it is not a requirement of section 18.6 for every viewpoint to be represented when links are provided.

10. In your letter to the CRE, you suggest that the manner in which An Inconvenient Truth and The Great Global Warming Swindle are treated in the timeline is unequal and unreasonable, and in your email of 8 March you refer to this treatment as "an example of biased, or unbalanced treatment of disparate viewpoints". Section 7.4.1 does not impose any requirement on the timeline to treat all subjects equally, or for the entry on An Inconvenient Truth to mention the errors found in the Dimmock case in order to 'balance' the Ofcom inquiry reference in the entry on The Great Global Warming Swindle. Notwithstanding this, it is relevant to note that a range of perspectives on both An Inconvenient Truth and The Great Global Warming Swindle is available on ABC Online:

http://abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2057413.htm
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/18/2063553.htm
http://abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/stories/2006/1751872.htm
http://abc.net.au/tv/swindle
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/12/1976637.htm

11. I note your view that the failure to include the NIPCC report in the timeline creates an "overall impression... that the producers of the timeline are biased". Audience & Consumer Affairs does not believe the omission of the NIPCC amounts to any failure to demonstrate a diversity of principal relevant perspectives on any matters of contention or public debate on ABC Online.

For the reasons outlined above, Audience & Consumer Affairs is satisfied that the requirements of section 7.4.1 have been met with respect to the issues you have raised. If you are dissatisfied with this finding and would like to me refer this matter to the CRE for review in conjunction with the current CRE review of your previous complaint about the timeline, please advise by return email and I will be happy to do so.

A copy of this email will be passed on to the CRE.