British climate skeptic on EU Copenhagen team

BRUSSELS (AP) — A high-profile climate-change skeptic is heading to next month's Copenhagen talks as part of the British delegation.

A European Parliament spokesman says British nationalist politician Nick Griffin will be one of 15 members attending next month's U.N. climate change conference. He says Griffin was selected by parliamentarians who are not part of other political groups in the Strasbourg-based assembly.

Griffin has described global warming as an "elite scam" and "an unproven theory based on manipulative statistics."

A British National Party spokesman says it's in Britain's interest that at least one politician will be "taking a skeptical view of things."

For his part, Britain's climate change secretary Ed Miliband calls Griffin's views on the issue "irresponsible and wrong."

%@AP Links

Sound:

<<CUT …095 (11/29/09)>> 00:25 "''

Peter Krause (KROW'-zuh)

The European Union has announced that its global warming summit will include a British delegate who's made it clear that he doesn't believe in global warming at all.

<<CUT …096 (11/29/09)>> 00:08 "summit in Denmark"

Peter Krause (KROW'-zuh)

Correspondent Peter Krause reports the British National Party is pleased to have its leading skeptic on global warming slated for next month's talks.

<<GRAPHICSBANK 1059610 (05/03/09)>> 768x576

Nick Griffin headshot, as British National Party leader, graphic element on gray

<<GRAPHICSBANK 1059612 (10/22/09)>> 768x576

Nick Griffin headshot, as British National Party leader, on BNP logo texture, partial graphic