Richard Tol's big mistake, or malicious behavior?

It's dumbfounding that even in the face of increasingly clear evidence for the seriousness of manmade global warming and the fact that important global geophysical changes have been initiated, changes that will undoubtedly radically rearrange the world we have come to love, the contrarian community, {you know, that god-fearing Republican/Libertarian community of deep pockets}, have been ramping up their attacks on science with an increasingly bizarre disconnect from the facts on the ground.  

It's hideous watching all these powerful people who will never admit to any mistakes - nor show any interest in constructively learning from the information at hand.  Faith over Fact!  Or is it simply disregard?