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Deniers: Cato Institute
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[edit] Details
1000 Mass. Ave NW.Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-842-0200 Fax: 202-842-3490
The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Washington DC, was founded in 1977 by Edward Crane and Charles Koch, the billionaire co-owner of Koch Industries, the largest privately held oil company in the U.S.
The Cato Institute holds regular briefings on global warming with known climate 'skeptics' as panelists. In December 2003, panelists included Patrick Michaels, Robert Balling and John Christy, all of whom believe that the current scientific understanding of climate change is inconclusive. Cato held similar briefings on climate change in Washington in July 2003 and 2002. (C. Coon, & Erin. Hymel (2003) Sound Policy for the Energy Bill, Heritage Foundation Reports, 23 September. ) According to People for the American Way, Cato has been funded by: Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Bell Atlantic Network Services, BellSouth Corporation, Digital Equipment Corporation, GTE Corporation, Microsoft Corp- oration, Netscape Communications Corporation, NYNEX Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Viacom International, American Express, Chase Manhattan Bank, Chemical Bank, Citicorp/Citibank, Commonwealth Fund, Prudential Securities and Salomon Brothers. Energy conglomerates include: Chevron Companies, Exxon Company, Shell Oil Company and Tenneco Gas, as well as the American Petroleum Institute, Amoco Foundation and Atlantic Richfield Foundation. Cato's pharmaceutical donors include Eli Lilly & Company, Merck & Company and Pfizer, Inc. (http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9261) Between 1985 and 2001, the Institute received $15,718,040 in 112 grants from only ten conservative foundations: Castle Rock Foundation (reformed Coors Foundation), Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, Earhart Foundation, JM Foundation, John M. Olin Foundation, Inc., Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Sarah Scaife Foundation, Carthage Foundation, David H Koch Foundation. (http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?51) The Cato Institute is a member of the State Policy Network 4/04
[edit] Key Quotes
"No known mechanism can stop global warming in the near term. International agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, would have no detectable effect on average temperature within any reasonable policy time frame of 50 years or so, even with full compliance."
Source: 47 of the Cato Handbook for Congress, 107 Congress
[edit] Quotes
[edit] 3 May, 2003
In response to the World Watch Report in May 2003 that linked climate change and severe weather events: "It's false. There is absolutely no evidence that extreme weather events are on the increase. None. The argument that more and more dollar damages accrue is a reflection of the greater amount of wealth we've created." - Jerry Taylor
Source: "Enviro Trends: Poor to Bear Brunt of Climate Change"
[edit] Key Deeds
[edit] 18 May, 2000
Held a "book forum" around the release of Patrick Michaels' "The Satanic Gases: Clearing the Air about Global Warming" where Michaels presented the ideas in his book.
Source: Cato Institute website 4/04
[edit] April, 2004
Included chapters on global warming in the "Cato Handbooks" for both the 106th and 107th Congresses. In both instances, Cato cast doubt on climate change science and discouraged U.S. involvement in the Kyoto Protocol or any other attempts to regulate greenhouse gases. The "Cato Handbooks" were distributed to all members of Congress.
Source: Cato Institute website 4/04
[edit] 6 October, 1999
Senior Fellow Patrick Michaels testifed before the House Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs, arguing against the classification of carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
Source: Transcript, Patrick Michaels' testimony before House Committee on Energy and Environment 10/6/99
[edit] 20 May, 1999
Jerry Taylor, Cato Director of Natural Resource Studies, testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Energy Research, Development, Production and Regulation and the House Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs, arguing that the Clinton administration budget requests for global climate change programs were not in compliance with the 1993 Government Performance and Results Act.
Source: Congressional Testimony of Jerry Taylor 5/20/99
[edit] 7 June, 2002
Senior Fellow Patrick Michaels signed a letter to President Bush, asking him to withdraw the "Climate Action Report 2002" and demand that it be rewritten based on "sound science". The letter also recommends that Bush "dismiss or re-assign all administration employees who are not pursuing your agenda, just as you have done in several similar instances."
Source: Joint Letter To President Bush On The EPA's Climate Action Report 6/7/02
[edit] Funding
Cato Institute has received $110,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.
1991
$unknown Exxon Corporation
Source: Cato Institute 1991 Annual Report
2001
$20,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2001 Annual Report
2002
$25,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
general support
Source: ExxonMobil 2002 Annual Report
2002
$5,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
annual gala dinner
Source: ExxonMobil 2002 Annual Report
2003
$25,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: 2003 Corporate Giving Report
2004
$15,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Environmental Education and Outreach
Source: Exxon Giving Report 2004
2006
$20,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil Corporate Giving Report 2006