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Rugby league icon Phil “Gus” Gould steps into the climate debate, challenging catastrophist predictions and the economic cost of net-zero energy policies.

Rugby league legend Phil “Gus” Gould is no Greta Thunberg, climate catastrophist.

He took to X on 11 March, offering some rare political commentary, saying he was “against the economic and social damage we are inflicting on ourselves through ridiculous energy policies.”

This will have zero effect on the climate in the long run, he added.

Of course, Gould said, “That’s my opinion. It seems to upset climate change believers. I don’t care.”

He wasn’t being mean or arrogant. Gould was simply restating what he’s learned and sharing what he’s observed.

“Not for one minute,” he clarified, “do I think my opinion matters, or that it will change anything.”

“But I do think the world’s thinking is slowly turning back the other way. I’m hoping so, anyway.”

Climate Fear-Mongering, Kids Panicking

Gould’s long-form X piece was a response to the question, “Can you explain the theory of climate change without using AI?”

In reply, the ’80s Canterbury Bulldogs player, coach, and now General Manager, said he doesn’t use AI to articulate his opinions.

AI has benefits, Gould declared, saying he uses AI as a research tool.

When it comes to buying into climate catastrophism, however, Gould is a hard no.  In fact, he seemed to state that he thought it was a grift.

“People are making a fortune,” Gould explained.

“Governments are being elected, purely on the fear-mongering premise that humans are changing the climate and the planet is in jeopardy.

“I read up a lot about climate stuff. I don’t profess to be an expert. But neither are those who abuse me for my opinion,” he argued.

Taking issue with the propaganda behind that abuse that is also causing unnecessary anxiety in kids, Gould said,

“My own children, smart kids, all now in their 20s, educated in Australian schools, were at one time completely convinced (and panicking), that the planet would end within a decade unless man stopped producing CO2.

“They would get very upset with me, because I would say that this is not going to happen.

“Certainly not in such a ridiculously short time frame they were fearing.

“Younger people have been educated to think this way.”

The Science Behind Gould’s Scepticism

Climate change activists exaggerate the speed at which CO2 – burning fuel like petrol, coal and gas — will be a factor, Gould continued.

“The vast majority of catastrophic predictions over the past 50 years have simply not occurred. Not even close.

“Fact — CO2 makes up less than 0.04% of the atmosphere,” he asserted.

“Human-produced CO2 is only a fraction of that small number.

“Blaming CO2 for global warming is like blaming a drop of ink for changing the colour of your swimming pool.”

Gould dug further, stating that “the Sun drives our climate far more powerfully than any gas.”

“Exposure to the Sun warms oceans. Warmer oceans release CO2 naturally. Therefore, CO2 may well be a consequence of warming, not the cause.

“History backs this up. Earth had warming and cooling cycles long before humans existed.”

Ergo, “Human existence is in jeopardy in the longer term. Not the health of the planet.”

Earning applause from New South Wales Libertarian legislator John Ruddick, the Rugby legend concluded,

“Human philosophy for changing the climate is actually leading to economic harm and quality of life deterioration.

“The costs are greater than the proposed cures.”

Such as, Gould said, net zero.

“They want to dedicate trillions of dollars and cripple our energy systems chasing Net Zero – a target with no scientific guarantee it will change the climate one degree.”

Reaffirming his previous point, he said,

“The idea that human industrial policy can influence global temperature is arguably as arrogant as the belief that humans are powerful enough to destroy the planet in the first place.”

The man many regard as the godfather of the NRL isn’t anti-environment.

Gould knows when he’s being played.

He’s against the climate crisis con, not common-sense pollution control and keeping Australia’s environment clean.