Secret funding helped build vast network of climate denial thinktanks

[tjts1]

Conservative billionaires used a secretive funding route to channel nearly $120m (£77m) to more than 100 groups casting doubt about the science behind climate change, the Guardian has learned.

The funds, doled out between 2002 and 2010, helped build a vast network of thinktanks and activist groups working to a single purpose: to redefine climate change from neutral scientific fact to a highly polarising "wedge issue" for hardcore conservatives.

The millions were routed through two trusts, Donors Trust and the Donors Capital Fund, operating out of a generic town house in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. Donors Capital caters to those making donations of $1m or more.
...
By 2010, the dark money amounted to $118m distributed to 102 thinktanks or action groups which have a record of denying the existence of a human factor in climate change, or opposing environmental regulations.

The money flowed to Washington thinktanks embedded in Republican party politics, obscure policy forums in Alaska and Tennessee, contrarian scientists at Harvard and lesser institutions, even to buy up DVDs of a film attacking Al Gore.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/14/funding-climate-change-denial-thinktanks-network

[mar1t1me]

The whole frigging thing is a dog and pony show.....we need to be working on finding ways to use less of everything. We do that and the environment will take care of itself.

[herbivor]

They briefly touched on this in the PBS documentary "Climate of denial". It's not surprising at all, considering the same thing was done with smoking and the ozone debates. What is surprising is the large number of people who bought and still buy the propaganda in the face of these facts and the ongoing science that confirms recent warming trends are anthropogenic.

[z31maniac]

The whole frigging thing is a dog and pony show.....we need to be working on finding ways to use less of everything. We do that and the environment will take care of itself.

Agree.

I think one of the big things, and I know herby will agree, is eating more vegetarian. We don't eat every meal vegetarian, but are increasing it more and more all the time.

Most americans have meat/eggs/dairy with EVERY MEAL and as snacks.

*eating veggie chili now for lunch*

[e30e]

Agree.

I think one of the big things, and I know herby will agree, is eating more vegetarian. We don't eat every meal vegetarian, but are increasing it more and more all the time.

Most americans have meat/eggs/dairy with EVERY MEAL and as snacks.

*eating veggie chili now for lunch*

You shut you hippy libertarian mouth, when I can't get my meat fix; I eat a protein bar! No veggies for this communist!

[Q5Quint]

Bacon was also invented by this think tank to wedge issue the weak from ever becoming a vegetarian.

[herbivor]

Agree.

I think one of the big things, and I know herby will agree, is eating more vegetarian. We don't eat every meal vegetarian, but are increasing it more and more all the time.

Most americans have meat/eggs/dairy with EVERY MEAL and as snacks.

*eating veggie chili now for lunch*

I'm seeing this in your future:

[tjts1]

$5 says this asshat is on the payroll too.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/au...way.html?_r=1&

And rebuttal
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/most...iar-test-drive

[gwb72tii]

wow, and average of $12MM/yr to fund a VAST network of skeptics!!
nice troll tits

here is a relavent document that totals both sides. yes, its from heartland, but it is heavily referenced with sources for the article.

http://heartland.org/sites/all/modules/custom/heartland_migration/files/pdfs/25717.pdf

[vladimirhtg]

I didn't put much effort into reading and understand what's going on here, but I did read enough to wonder how many people have read any Bjorn Lomborg. The Skeptical Environmentalist? Anybody?

Sent from my Etch A Sketch

[herbivor]

I didn't put much effort into reading and understand what's going on here, but I did read enough to wonder how many people have read any Bjorn Lomborg. The Skeptical Environmentalist? Anybody?

Sent from my Etch A Sketch

I watched his documentary. He's not a skeptic about man-made GW, he is skeptical about the urgency of doing something. Unfortunately, that is beginning to be the new ideology of conservatives. In the face of the mounting evidence which is beginning to be as hard to deny as the earth being flat, conservatives are saying " Well, so what if man-made GW exists? It's not that big of a deal and there is nothing we can really do about it." It still shows a lack of understanding of the severity of the situation. I think Bjorn has some good ideas but tends to downplay the severity.

[sumoashe]

GW comes down to one simple thing, MONEY. As long as the our leaders profit from oil and other polluting industries they will continue to rebuff scientific fact. One only needs to look outside to see the truth in what science has been saying. Like all things, they'll wait till were well past the tipping point to do anything, cause the can make more money. Or more likely wait till the oil reserves are dry.

[gwb72tii]

lomberg is a realist.

[gwb72tii]

GW comes down to one simple thing, MONEY. As long as the our leaders profit from oil and other polluting industries they will continue to rebuff scientific fact. One only needs to look outside to see the truth in what science has been saying. Like all things, they'll wait till were well past the tipping point to do anything, cause the can make more money. Or more likely wait till the oil reserves are dry.

ah the big bad oil industry. nothing about the green lobby? and you do know that oil will continue as the main source of energy for a long time, and that there continues to be no "peak" oil, even though its been predicted for the last 40 years?

[cale]

^ looks like the $118m achieved its goal