This is similar to the book and movie by Naomi Oreskes, "Merchants of Doubt", that explained how oil and coal companies used the same PR people as tobacco companies. These "pretend" experts, would claim that there was another equal side of scientists who did not believe in human caused climate disaster.  

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/08/710992579/losing-earth-explores-how-oil-industry-played-politics-with-the-planet-s-fate