Acid Quote by Michael E. Mann
“Bring down Mike Mann and we can bring down the IPCC, they reckoned. It is a classic technique for the deniers movement, I have discovered, and I don't mean only those who reject the idea of global warming but those who insist that smoking doesn't cause cancer or that industrial pollution isn't linked to acid rain.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Climate Change Disinformation, 2015
The quote warns that targeting a single scientist is a strategy used by denialists to discredit entire scientific bodies.
In simple terms: Attacking one expert is used to undermine whole fields.
Key Takeaway
Beware of smear tactics against individuals.
Themes
science denial
disinformation
strategic attacks
Mood
cautious
critical
informed
Type
political
defensive
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media coverage
- academic freedom
- public health messaging
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
media manipulation
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- Who might be targeted next?
- How can institutions protect credibility?
A Different Perspective
Such attacks can also backfire, strengthening resolve of scientists and public.
![“The same individuals who are doing primary research in the role of humans on the climate system are then permitted to lead the [IPCC] assessment! There should be an outcry on this obvious conflict of interest, but to date either few recognize this conflict, or see that since the recommendations of…” quote by Roger A. Pielke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c17/roger-a-pielke-117094_agendas_the-same-individuals-who-are-doing-prima_3067758.jpg)
![“Now, part of the problem with the climate debate is that so much gas board language like that [the IPCC's language] has been used and there's been too little plain, scientific, and economic thinking. And so, the entire political class has been captured by an idea, which as always with the best bad…” quote by Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a5/christopher-monckton-3rd-visco_bad-idea_now-part-of-the-problem-with-the-climate_698251.jpg)
![“[…] most of the environmental hype [regarding global warming] is really to help bring about Karl Marx's dream (nightmare) of a Communist world." [by reduction, and ultimately elimination of private property rights” quote by Kent Hovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7d5/kent-hovind-20354_communist_most-of-the-environmental-hype-regarding_3094404.jpg)
![“Keith's [Briffa] series...differs in large part in exactly the opposite direction that Phil's [Jones] does from ours. This is the problem we all picked up on (everyone in the room at IPCC was in agreement that this was a problem and a potential distraction/detraction from the reasonably consensus…” quote by Michael E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/60e/michael-e-mann-42026_agreement_keith-s-briffa-series-differs-in-large-p_1092652.jpg)
