As ACT leader, Hide criticised Labour's emissions trading scheme in September 2008. stating "the entire climate change - global warming hypothesis is a hoax... the data and the hypothesis do not hold together... Al Gore is a phoney and a fraud on this issue, and... the emissions trading scheme is a worldwide scam and swindle". He said that the legislation would drive up the cost of basic goods, ruining businesses and farmers. In November 2008, after ACT had negotiated with National for a review of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, "New Zealand Herald" journalist Brian Rudman commented that Hide had "fruitcake views on global warming".