A group of 100 church leaders, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and two current bishops, has criticised Sir Paul Marshall, the Christian co-owner of GB News, over the channel's attacks on climate science and action. The hedge fund manager was also challenged over his own statements, which the group called 'misleading', and his reported £1.8bn of fossil fuel investments.
Marshall recently said the UK had been infected by 'climate derangement syndrome' and that efforts to cut emissions were 'impoverishing people'. The church leaders wrote an open letter expressing concern that his statements were misleading, noting that decarbonisation is a growth opportunity that will save trillions of dollars long-term. They also asked him to declare any personal financial interests in fossil fuels before making public statements on the climate crisis.
Marshall responded that he shares concerns for stewardship of the planet but does not support unilateral net zero, which he said undermines prosperity and impacts the elderly and poor. He stated he is an active investor in renewable technology but does not believe in penalising oil and gas. The church leaders cited research showing GB News broadcast 953 attacks on climate science and action around the 2024 general election.
Clare Fussell of Christian climate charity Operation Noah said the urgency of moving away from fossil fuels has never been clearer. Marshall said he is not involved in GB News editorial decisions. A GB News spokesperson called the letter an 'affront' and said the channel stands behind its journalism.
