Joss Garman exposes the million dollar links between climate sceptic scientists and the oil companies
Leaked documents from inside one of America’s most powerful think tanks have revealed a multi-million dollar systematic disinformation campaign to cast doubt on the science of climate change.
The explosive documents, posted on Desmogblog – a website dedicated to monitoring groups that peddle false claims about climate science –show that some of the wealthiest and most polluting corporations in the world, including General Motors, Bayer, Pfizer, GSK and Microsoft, are helping to fund the Heartland Institute.
One of the leaked memos shows one “anonymous donor” paid the group more than $8.6 million through 2007-11 to promote climate change denial. The billionaire, oil baron Koch brothers are also implicated.
One of the revelations is that the best read climate blog in the world, Watts Up With That, is set to receive $90,000 in 2012 as part of their campaign. The man who runs the blog, Anthony Watts, is frequently quoted in major British media outlets including The Times (£). Two years ago Left Foot Forward revealed how Watts was tweeting links to the British National Party.
Similarly, ‘scientists’ receiving platforms on some of the biggest broadcasters in the world – including the BBC – are being paid monthly retainers to peddle a climate sceptic line. One document says:
“At the moment, this funding goes primarily to Craig Idso ($11,600 per month), Fred Singer ($5,000 per month, plus expenses), Robert Carter ($1,667 per month), and a number of other individuals, but we will consider expanding it, if funding can be found.”
A particularly sinister objective of their campaign is to “dissuading teachers from teaching science” – part of their “global warming curriculum project.” For this a coal industry insider has been hired, at the expense of $100,000 a year, to develop a plan to teach children that climate change is a hoax.
Another document says that Heartland has not yet tried:
“To raise funds from businesses with a financial interest in (shale gas) fracking. In 2012 we intend to correct that oversight.“
The leak will raise new questions about who is funding Lord Lawson’s influential lobby group in the UK, Global Warming Policy Foundation. Lord Lawson has consistently refused to reveal who is funding their campaign.
Left Foot Forward can reveal that David Henderson is both a Fellow of the Heartland Institute and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Global Warming Policy Foundation.
The director of this group, Benny Peiser, as well as Telegraph columnist James Delingpole, have spoken at a major conference of climate deniers organised by the Heartland Institute.
See also:
• Shale gas fantasists and wind sceptics need to get real – Guy Shrubsole, February 14th 2012
• Climate change sceptics and rural romantics – the Tories are a shambles on renewable energy – Kevin Meagher, February 7th 2012
• KPMG abandons anti-wind pro-gas energy report – WillAlex Hern, February 7th 2012
• Durban’s a letdown, Canada’s a dropout, and Russia’s leaking methane – Alex Hern, December 13th 2011
• Tabloid attacks on green movement mean we have to raise our game – Reg Platt, November 29th 2011
72 Responses to “Leaked documents expose multi-million dollar climate disinformation campaign”
Ellen Sandell
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WWF Public Affairs
Leaked documents expose multi-million dollar climate disinformation campaign: http://t.co/6rszPlT6 by @jossgarman
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Buster Brown
Leaked documents expose multi-million dollar climate disinformation campaign: http://t.co/6rszPlT6 by @jossgarman
Will Tucker
RT @leftfootfwd: Leaked documents expose multi-million dollar climate disinformation campaign: http://t.co/BnNACsCQ by @jossgarman