From Ross Russell
The 25 March issue of New Scientist had four full-page advertisements for cars. The vehicles comprised three “gas guzzlers” (a 3.7-litre Mercedes, a 3-litre Subaru and a 4.2-litre supercharged Range Rover) and only one “green” car – the hybrid Toyota Prius. The gas guzzlers do an average of 9.8 kilometres per litre (23 miles per gallon) on the combined cycle whereas the green car does some 28 km/l (65 mpg). The gas guzzlers spew out an average of 304 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, whereas the green car emits some 104 g/km.
Presumably car manufacturers choose which publications carry their advertising based on the likelihood that readers will buy their product. This would imply that scientists prefer gas guzzlers to green cars in the ratio of 3 to 1, so who says that scientists are generally environmentally conscious individuals? Or is this tactical advertising a cunning ploy by the manufacturers to discredit those who raise awareness of global warming?
From Mike Wootten
Your penchant for promoting high-polluting vehicles and even higher-polluting air travel hardly gives you the right to pontificate to policy makers around the world.
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Wirral, Cheshire, UK
The editor writes:
• Several readers have noted the difference between our editorial line on climate change and some of our adverts. At New Scientist, there is a Chinese wall between editorial and advertising. This works both ways. While it does create contradictions at times, it also ensures New Scientist‘s editorial independence from commercial considerations – other than the interests and enthusiasms of our readers, of course. This is a strength, not a weakness.
New Scientist‘s journalists report evidence from rational studies and write editorials based upon that evidence. We hope that these articles will help readers to make wise choices when buying technologies that increase carbon emission.
London, UK
