© The Author(s), 2010. Reprints and permissions: ISSN 0963-6625 DOI: 10.1177/0963662510364201 http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav Truth and opinion in climate change discourse: The Gore–Hansen disagreement Chris Russill In this paper, I discuss the “inconvenient truth” strategy of Al Gore. I argue that Gore’s notion of truth upholds a conception of science and policy that narrows our understanding of climate change discourse. In one notable exchange, Gore and NASA scientist, James Hansen, disagreed about whether scientific statements based on Hansen’s computer simulations were truth or opinion. This exchange is featured in An Inconvenient Truth, yet the disagreement is edited from the film and presented simply as an instance of Hansen speaking “inconvenient truth.” In this article, I compare the filmic representation of Hansen’s testimony with the congressional record. I place their exchange in a broader historical perspective on climate change disputation in order to discuss the implications of Gore’s perspective on truth. Keywords: climate change, computer models, Al Gore, James Hansen, An Inconvenient Truth, media and science, problematization, public participation, simulation, truth 1. Introduction In January 2006, Al Gore met with James Hansen, Director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), and the best- known climate scientist in America. Gore had asked Hansen to “critically assess his slide show,” which we know today as An Inconvenient Truth, and Hansen agreed to do so (Hansen, 2006: 16). Hansen (2006) found Gore’s film “scientifically accurate” in a way “understandable to the public” (p. 16). However, during their meeting, Gore began to apologize to Hansen, saying he, “wanted to apologize,” before Hansen interrupted him to say, “Your insight was better than mine” (Hansen, 2006: 16). The apology represents an interesting moment in the history of climate change discourse. It brings to mind the requests Gore (a government official) made to Hansen (a government scientist) for stronger statements regarding the seriousness of climate change. In one instance, Hansen refused his request to provide mapped simulations of increasing regional droughts due to global climate change, and “it angered Al Gore” (Hansen, 2007a). Their difference of opinion involved how best to discuss climate change model results in public. In a second SAGE PUBLICATIONS (www.sagepublications.com) PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE Public Understand. Sci. 20(6) (2011) 796–809