Global Warming Skeptics: A Primer
Guess who's funding the global warming doubt shops?
Posted: 19-Dec-2006; Updated: 28-Aug-2007
In 1998, Exxon devised a plan to stall action on global warming. The plan was outlined in an internal memo that promised, "Victory will be achieved when uncertainties in climate science become part of the conventional wisdom" for "average citizens" and "the media." (Read the memo [PDF].)
The company would recruit and train new scientists who lack a "history of visibility in the climate debate" and develop materials depicting supporters of action to cut greenhouse gas emissions as "out of touch with reality."
While there is no indication that ExxonMobil paid the climate skeptics directly and the scientists may have their own motivations for participating, the company poured millions of dollars into spreading its message worldwide. Here's where some of that money went.
The following information is from Exxon documents and the organizations' web sites. (Specific sources and links are listed below the table.)
| Organization Receiving ExxonMobil Funding | 2002-2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive Enterprise Institute | $870,000 | $270,000 | $270,000 |
| American Enterprise Institute | $485,000 | $230,000 | $240,000 |
| American Council for Capital Formation | $444,523 | $255,000 | $360,000 |
| Frontiers of Freedom | $282,000 | $250,000 | $140,000 |
| George C. Marshall Institute | $185,000 | $170,000 | $115,000 |
| National Center for Policy Analysis | $105,000 | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Tech Central Station Science Foundation | $95,000* | ||
| Heartland Institute | $92,500* | $100,000 | $119,000 |
| Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow | $72,000* | $125,000 | $90,000 |
| Fraser Institute | $60,000* | $60,000 | |
| International Policy Network | $50,000* | $115,000 | $130,000 |
| Center for Study of Carbon Dioxide & Global Change | $40,000* | $25,000 | |
| American Council on Science and Health | $35,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Annapolis Center for Science-Based Public Policy | $27,500* | $75,000 | $30,000 |
| Cato Institute | $25,000* | $15,000 | |
| Consumer Alert | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Independent Institute | $20,000 | $30,000 | |
| Advancement of Sound Science | $20,000 | $10,000 |
*These numbers are for the year 2003 alone.
The information above is from Exxon documents and the organizations' Web sites: Exxon's 2002 contributions [PDF], Exxon's 2003 contributions [PDF], Exxon's 2004 contributions [PDF] and Exxon's 2005 contributions [PDF].
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