Bill Maher Sparks Controversy on Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef

In a recent episode of his HBO show ‘Real Time with Bill Maher,’ comedian and host Bill Maher delved into the contentious topic of climate change, particularly focusing on the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The discussion featured Danish political scientist Bjorn Lomborg, who has long been a skeptic of the dire consequences often associated with climate change.

Lomborg characterized climate change as merely a “problem” that might reduce global GDP by only a few percentage points by the end of the century. He argued that by then, society would likely be much wealthier, citing findings from climate economists such as Nobel laureate William Nordhaus. However, Lomborg’s assertions were met with criticism from other experts, who pointed out that his views neglect significant risks and uncertainties associated with climate change.

When questioned about the Great Barrier Reef, Lomborg attributed its struggles primarily to pollution and overfishing rather than climate change. He presented data suggesting that the coral population on the reef has reached its highest levels since monitoring began in 1986. However, this data was sourced from surveys conducted before and during a recent severe mass bleaching event caused by rising ocean temperatures. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) clarified that the latest coral cover data does not reflect the survival or mortality rates of corals following this bleaching event.

Lomborg’s views were not widely supported by researchers studying coral reef health, who emphasize that climate change is the predominant threat to the Great Barrier Reef and coral ecosystems globally. Despite the audience’s enthusiastic reception, critics argue that Lomborg’s portrayal of the economic impacts of climate change is “incorrect and misleading” due to its failure to account for critical factors such as potential tipping points in the climate system.

The segment has garnered significant attention, with a clip shared by conservative commentator Dave Rubin amassing over 1.7 million views online. However, Rubin mistakenly labeled Lomborg as a climatologist, when in fact he is a political scientist and head of a think tank.