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Deniers: Heartland Institute
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[edit] Details
19 South LaSalle St., Suite 903 Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-377-4000
Founded in the early 1990s, Heartland Institute claims to apply "cutting-edge research to state and local public policy issues." Additionally, Heartland bills itself as "the marketing arm of the free-market movement."
http://www.capitalresearch.org/search/orgdisplay.asp?Org=HEA100
The Heartland Institute created a website in the Spring of 2007, www.globalwarmingheartland.org, which asserts there is no scientific consensus on global warming and features a list of experts and a list of like-minded think tanks, many of whom have received funding from ExxonMobil and other polluters. The Heartland Institute networks heavily with other conservative policy organizations, and is part of the State Policy Network, a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition (as of 4/04), and co-sponsored the 2001 Fly In for Freedom with the Wise Use umbrella group, Alliance for America. Heartland also co-sponsored a New York state Conference on Property Rights, hosted by the Property Rights Foundation of America.
The Institute puts out several publications, including "Environment & Climate News" which frequently features anti-environmentalist and climate skeptic writing. They also published "Earth Day '96," a compilation of articles on environmental topics. The publication, distributed on college campuses, featured "Adventures in the Ozone Layer" by S. Fred Singer, and "the Cold Facts on Global Warming" by Sallie Baliunas. The articles denied the serious nature of ozone depletion and global warming.
Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15.
The Heartland Institute formerly sponsored and hosted www.climatesearch.org, a web page ostensibly dedicated to objective research on global warming, but at the same time presenting heavily biased research by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute as an FAQ section.
[edit] Key Quotes
"Some environmentalists call for a "save-the-day" strategy to 'stop global warming,' saying it is better to be safe than sorry. Such a position seems logical until we stop to think: Immediate action wouldn't make us any safer, but it would surely make us poorer. And being poorer would make us less safe."
Source: Heartland Institute "Instant Expert Guide: Global Warming"
[edit] 1 February, 2007
"Unfortunately, global warming is an issue that is well suited to political demagoguery, which can be defined as pandering to misinformed voters and promising unrealistic solutions. Since opinion polls indicate a majority of the public believes warming is happening, politicians might think the safe strategy is to say “I believe global warming is a serious problem and I support measures to reduce global warming pollution by supporting renewable fuels and energy efficiency.” Such politicians should be “outed” for claiming to be smarter than scientists who have studied climate for many years and for using scare tactics to win elections."
Source: Heartland institute article
[edit] 15 January, 2007
"Warming is likely to be very modest relative to natural variation, benefits are likely to outweigh costs, and taking action now in the name of fighting “global warming” is unnecessary and would be very costly."
Source: Heartland Institute website
[edit] 16 April, 2007
"There is no consensus about the causes, effects, or future rate of global warming."
Source: Heartland's environmental issue suite
[edit] December 4th, 2007
James M. Taylor, senior fellow for The Heartland Institute explained, "It is not surprising the UN has completely rejected dissenting voices. They have been doing this for years. The censorship of scientists is necessary to promote their political agenda. After the science reversed on the alarmist crowd, they claimed 'the debate is over' to serve their wealth redistribution agenda."
Source:Heartland Institute Article accessed 12.7.07
[edit] April 16th, 2007
Climate science reveals that the world has warmed about 1 degree C during the past century, with half of that warming occurring before human emissions could have been responsible. Even if human activity is responsible for 100 percent of the warming since 1940, it is only about 0.5 degrees C., an amount so small it is within the error range of the instruments used to measure global temperatures. Source:Heartland's Environment Issue Suite
[edit] Quotes
[edit] September 1st, 2002
"While some environmental problems are legitimate, most are exaggerated by environmental groups to raise money and build support for more government power. Sound science, not scare tactics, ought to set the agenda for environmental protection."
Source: Heartland Institute website 4/04
[edit] September 16th, 2007
There is also disagreement over what to do about global warming. Economists believe the Kyoto Protocol, the treaty intended to reduce human greenhouse gas emissions, would cost its participants trillions of dollars while having little or not effect on the global climate. Meanwhile, the federal and state governments debate and pass legislation that will be similarly futile.
Source:Heartland's Environmental Suite
[edit] September 16th, 2007
All of the supposed catastrophic effects of global warming have been rebutted by scientists, including melting ice, hurricanes, other extreme weather, and extinction of wildlife.
Source:Heartland's Environmental Suite
[edit] Key Deeds
[edit] 2 April, 2007
The Heartland Institute takes up as its own campaign a challenge by Lord Monckton, former advisor to Margaret Thatcher, to debate Al Gore on global warming. Advertisements run in the New York Times and other media.
Source: Heartland news release. As of October 2007, Heartland is spending $1.2 million on this campaign, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
[edit] 15 January, 2007
Published a "Guidebook for State Legislators" which advises that legislators "should oppose unnecessary and costly global warming programs."
Source: Heartland Institute website
[edit] Deeds
[edit] 2 August, 2002
Wrote to President Bush, discouraging him from attending the UN Summit on Sustainable Development. Bush did not attend.
Source: "Corporate-funded Lobbyists Aimed to Sabotage Johannesburg Summit," Africa News, 8/19/2002
[edit] 3 October, 2000
Filed a lawsuit against President Clinton for expanding the scope of, and increasing funding for, a report on climate change by the US Global Change Research Program.
Source: "Lawmakers, Groups Sue Over National Assessment on Climate Change," Greenwire, 10/5/2000
[edit] Funding
Heartland Institute has received $676,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998.
1997
$unknown Mobil Corporation
Source: Heartland material, present at 3/16/97 conference
1998
$30,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 1998 grants list
2000
$115,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Climate Change
Source: ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
2001
$90,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2001 Annual Report
2002
$15,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2002 Annual Report
2003
$7,500 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
19th Aniversary Benefit Dinner
Source: ExxonMobil 2003 Corporate Giving Report
2003
$85,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
General Operating Support
Source: ExxonMobil 2003 Corporate Giving Report
2004
$10,000 Exxon Corporation
Climate Change Activities
Source: Exxon Giving Report 2004
2004
$15,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Climate Change Efforts
Source: Exxon Giving Report 2004
2004
$75,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
General Operating Support
Source: Exxon Giving Report 2004
2005
$29,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2005 DIMENSIONS Report (Corporate Giving)
2005
$90,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 2005 DIMENSIONS Report (Corporate Giving)
2006
$90,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
General Operating Support
Source: ExxonMobil Corporate Giving Report 2006
2006
$10,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Anniversary benefit dinner
Source: ExxonMobil Corporate Giving Report 2006
2006
$15,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
General Operating Support
Source: ExxonMobil Corporate Giving Report 2006