Jeebuz - who politicized Mother Nature most prominently was columnists on the political right like Wente.

Scientists were going about their business, as they had with say the hole in the ozone layer, and all helll broke out.  In opposition to boring scientists, incredibly wealthy oil tycoons like the Koch brothers started funding fake grassroots lobby groups like Friends of Science.  And then it got worse with right wing talking points spreading to a manufactured "war" on elites (people who actually know what they are talking about) and "white male culture" claiming victim status. 

And so far, the climate deniers have been winning - although you'd never know it from the whining.  Trump in the White House and recently Harper in Canada are the triumph of the wilfully blind.