Best known for scaring children in the 1980s by jumping out of bushes and bellowing, “Underquothe”, Dr Bellamy recently teamed up with the controversial New Zealand Climate Science Coalition, following an introduction through a member in the UK.

As part of what they term as their “seven pillars of climate wisdom”, the group claim that global temperatures have not increased and cooling could soon set in and continue to around 2030.

In addition, the coalition say that a major driver of climate change is variability in solar effects, such as sunspot cycles, and not an increase in carbon dioxide.

“I look forward to working with the New Zealanders to create an international coalition to serve as a united voice for the many scientists around the world who believe climate science is not settled,” said the bearded scientist.

“The world is not on the brink of a man-made global warming catastrophe and that we have much more to learn about this planet of ours that has been through and survived many natural upheavals and climatic cycles.” He continued.

In 2004, Dr Bellamy described man-made global warming as “poppycock”, before claiming last year that many of the world’s glaciers were advancing and not retreating. Dr Bellamy later admitted the figures were however wrong.