Matt Ridley is a global warming denier?

A few years ago, when I read his book "Nature via Nurture," I realized Ridley was (no longer?) a Pop Ev Psycher.

Now, via a link in a blog from a blog, I realize that may be, alas, a global warming denier.

Four years ago (though not more recently), the retreat of Arctic sea ice was unprecedented since records began, but records began only in 1979.

He then goes on to claim:

(A)nd there is lots of evidence of greater ice retreats in past periods, such as the 1930s.

But, but, but, my "dear" Matt, if this is "evidence," then, it's "records," isn't it? Didn't you just undercut yourself?

This comes from an article where he says we should stop worrying about a possible decline in the Earth's magnetic field, so it's a bit tangential. Nonetheless, he knows that from ice cores and other things, we have corroborative information on climate change in the past.

And, given that he had at one time seemed like a Pop Ev Psycher, I'm going to guess there's a common underlying political theme.