100+ Christian leaders sign open letter concerning climate misinformation on GB News

Source: Operation Noah

In an open letter, 100+ Christian leaders are calling on fellow Christian Sir Paul Marshall - a hedge fund manager and owner or part-owner of several prominent media properties, including GB News - to be transparent about fossil fuel-related conflicts-of-interest from GB News presenters and guests in light of climate misinformation researchers say the channel regularly broadcast in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election.

Signatories to the letter include Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury; Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford; Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary, Churches Together in England; Rt Revd Dr David Atkinson, Assistant Bishop (Hon), Southwark Diocese; Revd Dr David Gregory, Former Baptist Union President and Baptist Missioner for Science and Environment; The Ven Richard Brand, Archdeacon of Winchester; The Ven Liz Hassall, Archdeacon of York; The Ven Dr Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton; Revd Lucy Winkett, Rector, St James's Piccadilly; Canon Dr Ruth Valerio, Canon Theologian, Rochester Cathedral; Revd Prof David Wilkinson, Director, Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science; Fr Richard Nesbitt, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, White City and Revd Dr Al Barrett, Rector, Hodge Hill Church.

The intervention on the part of Christian leaders comes as new questions are being raised about whether GB News is compliant with Ofcom's Broadcasting Code, with particular concern from signatories of today's open letter about the amount of climate misinformation reportedly broadcast on the channel. Last year, researchers said GB News platformed 953 attacks on climate science and climate action in the run-up to, and aftermath of, the 2024 general election.

Given that Marshall's hedge fund had, as of 2023, a reported £1.8 billion invested in fossil fuels, today's letter from Christian leaders also calls for transparency from Marshall should he in fact have personal financial interests in fossil fuels. Marshall has been publicly critical of decarbonisation efforts ('net zero') in the past, saying that attempts to reduce planet-heating emissions were 'impoverishing our people' and 'sacrificing our energy security'.

In response to these past statements, today's letter from Christian leaders states: 'We are concerned that these statements are misleading. As many economists and experts have shown, decarbonisation is a huge growth opportunity which will save trillions of dollars in the long-term alongside improving our health and wellbeing and contributing to the UK's national security'.

Signatories to today's open letter have also invited Marshall to 'meet with a representative group of us - online or in person - in order to share our concerns about the role your media properties' are playing in our national discussion about the climate crisis, as well as to hear more about what your suggestions are for a fair and fast transition away from planet-heating fossil fuels'.

Clare Fussell, Campaign Director for the Christian climate charity Operation Noah and a signatory to the letter, said: 'With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the urgency of moving away from fossil fuels has never been clearer. There is strong public support for climate solutions and for a just and rapid transition to clean energy - support which is deeply felt within the Church. We urge all media outlets, including GB News, to uphold standards of fair and responsible reporting on climate issues, and to avoid misleading audiences by presenting unchallenged perspectives from those with vested interests in fossil fuels.'

Operation Noah is a Christian charity working to inspire the Church to take action on the climate crisis. In addition to divesting from fossil fuels, Operation Noah encourages Churches and faith groups around the world to invest in climate solutions alongside implementing better land use practices, such as peat restoration and tree growing.

Learn more at: www.operationnoah.org.