"The whole tissue of argument that makes climate change into the greatest problem facing humanity is based on a long series of improbabilities," he said.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute has received $1.5m from Esso since 1998 (see www.exxonsecrets.org). Esso is the world's biggest oil company and funds a series of front groups that spread doubt about climate science and advise Republican politicians on global warming. The CEI is one of the biggest of these groups.

Mr Ebell claimed that Britain's chief scientist, Sir David King, "knows nothing about climate science." He said Sir David is an "alarmist" who is "promoting this ridiculous claim."

Greenpeace campaigner Anita Goldsmith said:

"It is terrifying that this man is advising the White House on the gravest threat this planet faces. It just goes to show what was at stake on Tuesday, and what was lost. Mr Ebell might as well be claiming that Elvis is alive and well and living in Croydon or that the Earth is flat. The world's best climate scientists agree the threat is real and growing. Mr Ebell is a mouthpiece for Esso and should not be taken seriously, but his views are policy in the oval office."

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Norman Baker is tabling an Early Day Motion in parliament, condemning Mr Ebell for his comments (see below).

Mr Ebell did not accept the suggestion that the world's temperature has risen more quickly than at any time in recorded history. Asked whether European countries were 'not out to save the world, but out to get America,' Mr Ebell replied, 'I think that is pretty obviously and explicitly the programme of the EU Commission, yes.'

Anita Goldsmith added: "This kind of idiocy would be a mere distraction if it were not for the fact that Bush believes this nonsense. If Tony Blair really regards global warming as a huge threat, like he says he does, he needs to give the President a dose of straight talking the next time they meet."

For more call Greenpeace on 0207 865 8255.

Norman Baker EDM reads:

THE US GOVERNMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE - This House deplores in the strongest possible terms the unfounded and insulting criticism of Sir David King, the government's Chief Scientist, by Myron Ebell, advisor to US President George W Bush on climate change; notes that Mr Ebell is a director of global warming at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, an organisation bankrolled by, amongst others, ExxonMobil and the American Petroleum Institute; fervently hopes that Mr Ebell's comments do not represent official US policy; congratulates Sir David King on the work he has done to raise the issue of global warming both at home and abroad; believes that the planet cannot afford another four years of inaction and denial from the US administration; and calls on the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to do everything possible to get President Bush to accept the need to take climate change seriously and ensure the US plays its part internationally in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Esso conference is besieged by climate change protesters

A meeting of energy ministers from across Europe has been surrounded by protesters dressed as tigers.

The campaigners, from the environmental group Greenpeace, are protesting against oil giant Esso, which has organised the meeting. They say Esso has done more than any other company to sabotage the fight against global warming.

About thirty protesters, many dressed as the Esso tiger mascot, are surrounding the Bibliotheque Solvay in central Brussels. Some are in trees hanging banners that say: 'ESSO - GLOBAL WARMING LIARS'. Other campaigners are stopping delegates outside the venue to explain the role the world's biggest oil company has played in keeping the US out of the Kyoto Protocol to tackle climate change.

Greenpeace campaigner Emily Armistead said: "Esso chiefs want Europeans to see them as respectable businessmen, but in truth they are at the centre of a deeply irresponsible campaign that could result in the world facing climate disaster. Esso funds front groups that try to muddy the waters around global warming science while the company gives huge sums to politicians that deny man-made climate change is even happening. We want Europe's top energy policymakers to steer clear of this company."

The meeting - called Europe's Energy Outlook - is being attended by the some of the most powerful players in the European energy field, including ministers and officials from all 25 EU countries. Esso has organised the event and will give the keynote address.

Greenpeace campaigners have previously shut down 120 Esso petrol stations on the same day in the UK, shut down all the Esso stations in Luxembourg, shut down their European headquarters outside London and shut down their international HQ in Dallas.

Emily Armistead continued: "We've been telling the delegates about Esso's appalling record of disinformation and dirty tricks on global warming. We hope they'll take whatever the company said inside the meeting with a pinch of salt."

Film and photographs available on request. For more information contact Greenpeace on 00 44 7801 212961 / 0044 7801 212967.

The day after tomorrow: who will you blame?

Environmental campaigners have taken up a challenge from the producers of the upcoming blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, by launching a new website.

www.thedayaftertomorrow.org is a spoof on the dot com website of the same name. The movie, to be launched on 28 May, recounts a fictional disaster in which climate change brings about a new ice age. The producers have stated that campaigners should take advantage of the film.

The parody website, launched today by Greenpeace in countries, has the same look and feel as the official site for The Day after Tomorrow. But the Greenpeace site lays the blame for climate change squarely at the feet of the U.S. administration and oil company Esso by asking the question: "The Day After Tomorrow - Who will you blame?"

"Millions of people will see this film and want to do something about the growing menace of global warming. When they visit our site, they'll get to hear about the real life disaster of climate change - currently being directed by Esso and produced by George W Bush," said Rob Gueterbock of Greenpeace. "This movie may be fiction, but climate change is real and humans are causing it."

Visitors to the site can see Greenpeace's own movie trailer, which features real impacts of climate change (special effects), a factual update on the science and a chance to 're-write the ending' by taking action.

Greenpeace is also launching a massive subvertising campaign. More than a million movie-style stickers are now in the hands of activists across the UK, ready to let the public know who's to blame for global warming. The environmentalists' campaign comes as the Bush administration attempts to stifle the film's message. The New York Times recently published an internal administration memo showing how NASA scientists were ordered not to comment on the film. NASA later rescinded the order, after scientists protested.

The U.S. refuses to sign up to the only international treaty on global warming, the Kyoto Protocol, with President Bush's policies largely focussing on research with no real cuts in C02. Most American scientists are clear that global warming is happening and is caused by humans. Esso, the world's richest company, also refuses to accept the scientific consensus. The company pays front groups to block action and invests nothing in clean, renewable energy.

For more information contact Greenpeace on 0207 865 8255