Climate skeptics are, not surprisingly, hitting the European speaking circuit in the weeks leading up to the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen. But what is surprising is that notorious global warming denier S. Fred Singer was described at a skeptic conference today as a Nobel prize winner, a flat out lie.

According to a Belgian journalist who alerted DeSmog to Singer’s appearance today at a skeptic conference in the European Parliament building, Singer was described in event materials as:

The idea that Fred Singer shares any part in the IPCC/Gore Nobel prize is laughable, of course.  Other than Mr. Gore, the Nobel committee recognized only the IPCC authors, and they all received framed Nobel certificates.  If Singer can produce a framed Nobel, I’ll produce my Olympic gold medal (Singer must eat cereal too, I sure enjoy the prizes inside, although I’ve never seen a Nobel peace prize before).

None of the countless reviewers of the IPCC reports (DeSmogBlog’s own Kevin Grandia included) can claim any part of the Nobel glory. But that hasn’t stopped Fred Singer from trying to elevate his role as a reviewer to Nobel status.

Singer now “shares the 2007 Nobel peace prize with Al Gore,” according to materials announcing his keynote speech at today’s one day conference “Have Humans Changed the Climate?,” hosted by Roger Helmer, a British conservative member of the European Parliament. To be clear, this event isn’t endorsed by the entire European Parliament. Helmer just booked a room inside the building, no doubt hoping to add legitimacy to this leg of the Denial-a-Palooza ’09 tour, European edition. 

Other “distinguished” guest speakers at today’s skeptic parade include Ross McKitrick (of hockey stick denial fame), University of Oslo Professor Tom Segalstad (also a guest speaker at Heartland Institute’s skeptic conference), and James Delingpole from the Daily Telegraph (UK author who says he’ll “provide comedy value” at the conference).

Delinpole describes himself on his website as “a libertarian conservative who writes brilliant books and brilliant articles, and is really great on TV, radio and the internet too.”

Enticed by such an amazing self-description, I wandered inside his website to take a look around. I didn’t have to look too far before being completely impressed. After all, front and center of his own homepage today, Delingpole acknowledges what we at DeSmogBlog have known for years:

Mr. Delingpole, thank you for admitting openly that skeptics like Fred Singer and yourself would be out of a job if you all had to rely on trying to get your non-scientific views published in actual peer-reviewed science journals. Please let Fred Singer know this when you see him next.

My work here is done.

Have you heard S. Fred Singer described elsewhere as a “Nobel prize winner?” Drop us an email at [email protected].