Alan Rudge

Photo: Royal Society

Alan Rudge

Credentials

  • CBE.1Alan Rudge,” The Royal Society. Archived December 19, 2018.
  • FREng.2Alan Rudge,” The Royal Society. Archived December 19, 2018.
  • FRS.3Alan Rudge,” The Royal Society. Archived December 19, 2018.

Background

Alan W. Rudge is an electrical engineer and a member of the academic advisory council of UK climate science denial think tank the Global Warming Policy Foundation.4SIR ALAN RUDGE,” The Global Warming Policy Foundation. Archived December 19, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/EiPe0

He is perhaps best known for losing a £1000 bet on the extent of climate change in 2016 to Cambridge University academic Chris Hope [editor’s note: Chris Hope is the father of DeSmog UK’s editor, Mat Hope].5Kyla Mandel. “Climate Science Denier Feels ‘A Bit Stupid’ After Losing £1K Bet That World Would Be Cooling in 2015,” DeSmog, January 25, 2016.

Rudge is also a member of the Royal Society, the founding chairman and subsequent president of the ERA Foundation, a British engineering-focused organisation, and a former member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Committee. He is also former deputy chief executive at British Telecommunications (BT).6Alan Rudge,” The Royal Society. Archived December 19, 2018.

Rudge is also a trustee and chairman of Civitas, a British education charity based at 55 Tufton Street, home to a small network of pro-Brexit, anti-regulation and climate sceptic think tanks.7About Us,” Civitas. Archived December 19, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dp7Zq

Stance on Climate Change

May 2013

In an ERA Foundation lecture, Rudge called for the repeal of the UK’s 2008 Climate Change Act, which he argues “is acting directly against the economic interests of the nation.”8LECTURE BY SIR ALAN RUDGE, ERA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT,” The ERA Foundation, May 2013. Archived December 19, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jtJLU

November 9, 2010

Rudge has supported the argument that because the UK is responsible for “only 2 percent” of global emissions, any action taken at home won’t help tackle climate change, according to a summary of his talk at an All Party Parliamentary Engineering Group debate.9“The All Party Parliamentary Engineering And Information Technology Group” (PDF). PDF created March 27, 2014. Retrieved from All Party Parliamentary Engineering Group.

On renewables, Rudge argued wind power is “not practical” and that solar power is “too expensive.” Instead he favours shale gas and nuclear power.10“The All Party Parliamentary Engineering And Information Technology Group” (PDF). PDF created March 27, 2014. Retrieved from All Party Parliamentary Engineering Group. 11LECTURE BY SIR ALAN RUDGE, ERA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT,” The ERA Foundation, May 2013. Archived December 19, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jtJLU

Key Quotes

January 2016

After losing a bet on climate change, he told the Times:12Kyla Mandel. “Climate Science Denier Feels ‘A Bit Stupid’ After Losing £1K Bet That World Would Be Cooling in 2015,” DeSmog, January 25, 2016.

“You could say I was the mug for taking the bet. I feel a bit stupid about it. Lucky Chris Hope — and a lesson for all who would gamble on the planet’s unpredictable weather to look carefully at the terms before signing up!”

May 2013

Speaking to the ERA Foundation he said:13LECTURE BY SIR ALAN RUDGE, ERA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT,” The ERA Foundation, May 2013. Archived December 19, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jtJLU

“The 2008 Climate Change Act was conceived during a period of great alarm over the consequences of man-made Global Warming. The Act was intended to reduce carbon emissions and thereby save the planet from imminent catastrophic overheating. However, in practice it does nothing of the sort. It is more about dogma and posturing than reducing carbon emissions. It is also evident that the science upon which it was based had rather more uncertainties and was less settled than was being mooted at the time.”

May 29, 2010

Rudge was one of the leaders of a petition to the Royal Society to rewrite it’s official position on climate change. He told The Times:14REBEL SCIENTISTS FORCE ROYAL SOCIETY TO ACCEPT CLIMATE SCEPTICISM,” The Global Warming Policy Forum, May 29, 2010. 15Ben Webster. “Rebel scientists force Royal Society to accept climate change scepticism,” The Times, May 29, 2010. Archived June 4, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/eFR7k

“I think the Royal Society should be more neutral and welcome credible contributions from both sceptics and alarmists alike. There is a lot of science to be done before we can be certain about climate change and before we impose upon ourselves the huge economic burden of cutting emissions.”

“One of the reasons people like myself are willing to put our heads above the parapet is that our careers are not at risk from being labelled a denier or flat-Earther because we say the science is not settled. The bullying of people into silence has unfortunately been effective,” Rudge continued.

Rudge refused to name any other of the signatories of the petition.

Key Deeds

January 2016

Rudge, along with Australian geologist Ian Plimer, lost a bet to Cambridge University researcher Chris Hope that 2015 wouldn’t be the hottest year ever recorded. Rudge and Plimer lost £1,000 each in the bet.16Kyla Mandel. “Two Members of Lord Lawson’s Climate Denial Think Tank Lose £2K In Climate Science Bet,” DeSmog UK, January 21, 2016.

2010

Rudge successfully organised a petition to challenge the UK’s oldest scientific institution, the Royal Society’s position on climate change for being “unnecessarily alarmist” and acknowledge “uncertainties” in the science. Only three percent of the Society’s membership (43 people) signed the petition.17Ben Webster. “Rebel scientists force Royal Society to accept climate change scepticism,” The Times, May 29, 2010. Archived June 4, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/eFR7k 18Niall Firth. “Royal Society issues new climate change guide that admits there are ‘uncertainties’ about the science,” Daily Mail, October 17, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/9JwE7

Affiliations

Directorships

According to his Royal Society profile, Rudge has “served on more than 20 company boards, most recently as Deputy Chairman of Experian.” Below is a partial listing, according to Companies House records:26Alan Rudge,” The Royal Society. Archived December 19, 2018. 27Alan Walter RUDGE,” Companies House. Archived December 19, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/7N6mB

  • Experian Finance — Resigned 2006
  • CTS Property Company — Resigned 2003
  • Cobham CTS — Resigned 2003)
  • M (2003) — Resigned 2002
  • WS Atkins — Resigned 2001
  • Telent Limited — Resigned 2000
  • Foundation for Science and Technology — Resigned 1999
  • Lucasvarity — Resigned 1999
  • British Telecommunications — Resigned October 1997
  • Communications Networking Services (UK) — Resigned 1997
  • BT & D Technologies — Resigned 1993

Social Media

Alan Rudge does not appear to be active on social media.

Publications

According to his profile at the Royal Society, Rudge is the former editor of the Antenna Handbook. According to a search of Google Scholar, Alan Rudge has not authored any articles in peer-reviewed journals on climate change.28Alan Rudge,” The Royal Society. Archived December 19, 2018. 29Search of Google Scholar for publications including text “climate” authored by Alan Rudge. Performed December 19, 2018.

Other Resources

Resources

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