How Much Blame Should Public Service Broadcasters Get in the Climate Change Wars?

George Monbiot claims the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) 'let climate deniers walk all over it' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/08/bbc-climate-change-deniers-fossil-fuel-broadcasters). Monbiot essentially maintains the petrochemical multinationals, knowing from their own scientists they had a problem, decided they could achieve 'victory' (as defined by the American Petroleum Institute), if it became generally accepted there was uncertainty about emissions-related climate change. The petrochemicals multinationals consequently poured millions of dollars into lobby groups to carry the uncertainty message. These lobby groups were, however, cunningly repackaged as 'Think tanks' and 'Research institutes' (a device used by some right wing politicians). Monbiot claims these bodies (in spite of repeated requests) were never made by the BBC, to make the sources of their funding clear. He maintains that a combination of 'gullibility, appeasement and scientific ignorance' resulted in the BBC accepting, the lobby group's statements at face value. Monbiot clearly feels that public service broadcasters (because they were trusted) gave the lobby groups credibility. He is probably right but one can have some sympathy for the BBC. As a public service broadcaster, it is largely dependent for its funding on the government (currently a licence fee). The BBC has been under attack by some politicians and large sections of commercial media for decades. The BBC had to work to try to defend itself against charges of bias. The organisation made an early decision to try to maintain 'balance', on contentious issues, by 'presenting both sides of the argument'. This led to the concept of equivalence. So, every broadcast on a contentious issue, had to have people maintaining opposite views. Equivalence has clearly not worked very well in a number of areas. One cannot say, however, that the BBC has not attempted to provide a pro-environmentalist perspective. Things would be a good deal worse without a public service broadcaster.