US oil company donated millions to climate sceptic groups

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 30 Mar 2010, 16:36

New report from Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns ... industries

and article in the Grauniad
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... e-sceptics

A Greenpeace investigation has identified a little-known, privately owned US oil company as the paymaster of global warming sceptics in the US and Europe.

The environmental campaign group accuses Kansas-based Koch Industries, which owns refineries and operates oil pipelines, of funding 35 conservative and libertarian groups, as well as more than 20 congressmen and senators. Between them, Greenpeace says, these groups and individuals have spread misinformation about climate science and led a sustained assault on climate scientists and green alternatives to fossil fuels.

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 30 Mar 2010, 18:33

Thanks John. Something to quote back to the deniers.

The groups include many of the best-known conservative thinktanks in the US, like Americans for Prosperity, the Heritage Foundation, the Cato institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Foundation for research on economics and the environment. All have been involved in "spinning" the "climategate" story or are at the forefront of the anti-global warming debate, says Greenpeace.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 30 Mar 2010, 19:21

I find it "interesting" that it only takes one minor error in the pro argument to get the deniers going, but there must be huge amounts of inaccurate "facts" in the deniers arguments that never get queried.

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 30 Mar 2010, 19:27

It's called "balance"!

One the one hand facts, on the other bullshit.

RogueMale · Post by **RogueMale** » 31 Mar 2010, 00:33

Well, there's so much bullshit here: http://www.the-daily-politics.com/home/ ... ngs-speech that you can all stop worrying about peak phosphate.

But I particularly want to draw your attention to Dr Stephen Lathwell's comment on the subject of Krakatoa, which I've already debunked once today, by pointing out this peer-reviewed scientific paper: http://www.springerlink.com/content/631t022372116213/.

Lathwell overestimates Krakatoa's emissions (included in the total figure in the abstract) by several orders of magnitude, according to scientists working in the field.

And that's just one mistake.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 31 Mar 2010, 01:29

There's a debunking of just about everything he said on www.RealClimate.org

The Green Revolution, for instance, was about the vastly increased use of artificial fertilisers causing increased crop production, not CO2.

What he said is the Lies! Lies! Lies!

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 31 Mar 2010, 02:28

Eeeek.

I work for an oil company so therefore my degree in physics is cancelled out...

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 31 Mar 2010, 13:27

fifthcolumn wrote:Eeeek.

I work for an oil company so therefore my degree in physics is cancelled out...

If you say so!! WTF are you talking about?

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 31 Mar 2010, 14:48

What about the billions and billions the governments and UN throw at warming hysterics then?

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 31 Mar 2010, 15:09

MacG wrote:What about the billions and billions the governments and UN throw at warming hysterics then?

errr . . . figures, references?

Do you include ALL climate science research as hysteria? The Met Office too?

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 31 Mar 2010, 16:44

MacG wrote:What about the billions and billions the governments and UN throw at warming hysterics then?

What a ridiculous thing to say.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 31 Mar 2010, 17:05

The entire IPCC report is written by a (paid) staff of about 30 full timers. The rest get paid nothing.

Hardly billions, unless you live in Zimbabwe.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 31 Mar 2010, 18:27

RalphW wrote:The entire IPCC report is written by a (paid) staff of about 30 full timers. The rest get paid nothing.

Hardly billions, unless you live in Zimbabwe.

I doubt that anyone involved paid journeys to Kyoto, Bali and Copenhagen from their own salaries.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 31 Mar 2010, 18:28

foodimista wrote:
MacG wrote:What about the billions and billions the governments and UN throw at warming hysterics then?
What a ridiculous thing to say.

What an intelligent and factual reply...

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 31 Mar 2010, 21:00

I used to work for a company owned by Koch while I was on here warning of peak oil, so they were funding good stuff too