Ray Evans (Deceased)
Credentials
- M.Eng Sc. (Melb).1Ray Evans, Tom Quirk, Alan Moran. “Australia under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (sic) Act 2009” (see PDF “About the Authors,” page 4). The Lavoisier Group, September 2009.
Background
Ray Evans passed away on June 17, 2014.2“The Life and Times of Ray Evans,” Quadrant Online, June 19, 2014. Archived May 28, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6hqv4qhfD Evans is a former office-holder and co-founder of numerous Australian front groups and right wing think-tanks. He is past President of the HR Nicholls Society, past Secretary of the Bennelong Society, past Treasurer of the Samuel Griffith Society, and the past Secretary for the Lavoisier Group where he had “written extensively on the global warming issue” at Lavoisier.3Clive Hamilton. Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change. Black Inc. Agenda (May 1, 2007). Page 136.
Between 1982 and 2001 Evans worked with the Western Mining Corporation (WMC) as an Executive Officer, during which time he was a close associate of WMC CEO Hugh Morgan. “My role was to engage in the culture wars and provide him with feedback,” Evans says of his work for Morgan. Together with Morgan, he helped found the HR Nicholls Society in 1985.
Stance on Climate Change
“The global warming scam has been, arguably, the most extraordinary example of scientific fraud in the post-War period. So many people, and institutions, have been caught up in the web of deceit, master-minded by environmental activists working through NGOs and their manipulation of the IPCC processes, that the integrity of Western science is seriously at risk.”4“Climate change is bunk: Ray Evans tells us why,” Crikey, February 28, 2007.
Key Quotes
“If Kyoto is brought into effect the economic dislocation which must follow its implementation will be unprecedented in modern times. It will be equivalent to the famines of the early 19th Century in its disruptive power (except that the famines were followed by good seasons).”5Ray Evans, “The Kyoto Protocol: Fast Road to Global Governance” (PDF), The Samuel Griffith Society.
“Environmentalism has largely superseded Christianity as the religion of the upper classes in Europe and to a lesser extent in the United States.”6“Greenhouse sceptics to congregate.” The Age, February 28, 2007.
Key Deeds
November 2008
Evans was the author of a document titled “Thank God For Carbon,” which noted that the Lavoisier Group had “donated generously to support the publishing costs.7“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
In the paper, Evans claims that “The belief that anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide are responsible for raising the world’s temperature during the last 30 years or so is shown here to be without any solid foundation.”8“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
He refers to “the religious movement we can call the global warming movement” as being “held tenaciously by only a small proportion of the population.”9“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
Evans concludes that “The Emissions Trading Scheme is a much greater threat to our lives and to our nation than any increase in carbon dioxide that man can produce.”10“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
September 2008
Ray Evans, then-Secretary of the Lavoisier Group, wrote a paper titled “Satanic Gas: The Politics of Carbon Dioxide” where he argued that carbon dioxide has been wrongfully demonised. “Since 1998 […] global temperatures have either been stationary or, since 2002, in decline, but despite that, CO2 concentrations have continued to increase,” Evans claimed.11“Satanic Gas: The Politics of Carbon Dioxide,” Quadrant, September 2008. Retrieved from Lavoisier.com.
Evans cited non-scientist Christopher Monckton, who claims that positive feedback mechanisms such as water vapour “are not to be found in the real world.” In conclusion, Evans wrote:12“Satanic Gas: The Politics of Carbon Dioxide,” Quadrant, September 2008. Retrieved from Lavoisier.com.
“[A]bove all, the belief that carbon is a demonic element, and that carbon dioxide is a satanic gas, is a retreat into fantasy of the most primitive and dangerous kind.”13“Satanic Gas: The Politics of Carbon Dioxide,” Quadrant, September 2008. Retrieved from Lavoisier.com.
November 2006
Published the book Nine Facts About Climate Change (PDF) through The Lavoisier Group. His book was introduced by former mining executive Arvi Parbo at Parliament House in February, 2007.
Here are some sample quotes taken from the nine “Facts” (Note that Evans’s book has been debunked by RealClimate, and by other sources):
- “Carbon dioxide is necessary for all life on earth and increasing atmospheric
concentrations are beneficial to plant growth, particularly in arid conditions.” - “The decarbonisation of the world’s economy would, if attempted, cause huge
economic dislocation…” - “…astro-physicists who study sunspot behaviour predict that the next 25–50 years could be a cool period similar to the Dalton Minimum of the 1790s-1820s.”
- “…increasing atmospheric concentrations beyond current levels
will have no discernible effect on global temperatures.”
In January, 2006, Evans wrote a similar pamphlet titled Nine Lies About Global Warming where he “sought to summarise for the lay reader the state of the debate about increasing
atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.”
Affiliations
In an ABC Radio interview, Clive Hamilton, director of the Australia Institute, described Evans as “responsible for establishing the Lavoisier Group as well as a number of right-wing organisations, the H.R. Nichols Society, the Benelong Society, the Samuel Griffith Society, all of which he was either President of Treasurer; they often shared the same post office box.”
These are some of his known affiliations:14“On Line Opinion’s Editorial Advisory Board.” On Line Opinion. Retrieved Aug 24, 2011.
- The Lavoisier Group — Former “Secretary,” and Co-founder.
- Western Mining Corporation (WMC) — Former Executive.
- Ray Evans & Associates — Former Director since July, 2001.
- H.R. Nichols Society — Former Co-founder and President.
- Bennelong Society — Former Board Member and past Secretary.
- Samuel Griffith Society — Contributed to past Society conferences.
Publications
According to his profile at On Line Opinion, Evans has published in fields including environmentalism, Indigenous peoples’ movements, and economic and political issues affecting the mining industry.
According to a search of Google Scholar, Evans has not published any articles in peer reviewed journals on the subject of climate. He has, however, published numerous articles through the Lavoisier Group.
Sample Articles
- Ray Evans. “Nine Facts About Climate Change” (PDF). The Lavoisier Group, November, 2006.
Other Resources
Resources
- 1Ray Evans, Tom Quirk, Alan Moran. “Australia under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (sic) Act 2009” (see PDF “About the Authors,” page 4). The Lavoisier Group, September 2009.
- 2“The Life and Times of Ray Evans,” Quadrant Online, June 19, 2014. Archived May 28, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6hqv4qhfD
- 3Clive Hamilton. Scorcher: The Dirty Politics of Climate Change. Black Inc. Agenda (May 1, 2007). Page 136.
- 4“Climate change is bunk: Ray Evans tells us why,” Crikey, February 28, 2007.
- 5Ray Evans, “The Kyoto Protocol: Fast Road to Global Governance” (PDF), The Samuel Griffith Society.
- 6“Greenhouse sceptics to congregate.” The Age, February 28, 2007.
- 7“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
- 8“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
- 9“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
- 10“Thank God For Carbon” (PDF), The Lavoisier Group, November, 2008.
- 11“Satanic Gas: The Politics of Carbon Dioxide,” Quadrant, September 2008. Retrieved from Lavoisier.com.
- 12“Satanic Gas: The Politics of Carbon Dioxide,” Quadrant, September 2008. Retrieved from Lavoisier.com.
- 13“Satanic Gas: The Politics of Carbon Dioxide,” Quadrant, September 2008. Retrieved from Lavoisier.com.
- 14“On Line Opinion’s Editorial Advisory Board.” On Line Opinion. Retrieved Aug 24, 2011.
