Climate Change Scientist in the Field

Poker tournaments often see their fair share of controversy. Players are sometimes accused of angle-shooting, or worse, outright cheating. Occasionally a situation arises which falls into a grey area within the rules, and players have widely varying opinions about the tournament staff’s decision. Today, though, the most controversial figure in the room is known for sparking debate away from the tables.

James Taylor is a noted climate-change commentator. He is a senior fellow at the Heartland Institute, which, according to its mission statement, aims to “discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.” Taylor is also the managing editor of Heartland’s publication Environment and Climate News.

As with many people and organizations involved in this field, neither Taylor nor Heartland are free from accusations of bias, and Taylor’s commentary is part of a lively and ongoing debate involving both the scientific community and public policy.

Update: The seat formerly occupied by Taylor now sits empty. It appears he has busted out of the tournament.