Although the author sees the obvious intent of the most aggressive section of the capitalist class, he is only able to identify them as "climate skeptics". The fact that they are all funded either directly or indirectly by carbon spewing and polluting industries doesn't enter into his otherwise fine report. (See this, this, this, and this.)
Climate skeptics reach a new low. Their goal: Don't let scientists influence policy, period.People employed by mainstream media, and I classify Salon as mainstream, are unable to identify the real, underlying, systemic causes of the attack on science. The ruling capitalist class will never let anything to get in the way of their pursuit of profits, the most powerful addiction of all, that will lead humanity, unless we stop it, to its ultimate destruction.
The author is correct in stating that the attack on science is the new barbarism. What he misses is that the system itself is barbaric because it will never allow truth, destruction of habitat, or destruction of humanity to keep the capitalist class from enjoying its addiction.