ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Heartland Institute

FACTSHEET: Heartland Institute, Heartland

DETAILS

http://www.heartland.org/
19 South LaSalle St., Suite 903 Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-377-4000
Founded in the early 1984, 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." In February of 2012, internal strategy and funding documents detailing the Heartland Institutes campaign of global warming denial were released to DeSmogBlog. The documents included strategies for raising funds from Koch brothers foundations, as well as a plan to create school curriculums that cast doubt on global warming science. Documents and analysis are available at desmogblog.com.

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, features "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.

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"

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

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 - Energy Policy for America guidebook

16 April, 2007
"There is no consensus about the causes, effects, or future rate of global warming."
Source: Heartland's environmental issue suite

QUOTES

1 September, 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

KEY DEEDS

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

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 - Energy Policy for America guidebook

16 May, 2010
Hosted international conference on climate change in Chicago, a gathering of international climate deniers to confirm their theory that global warming isn't happening and that action on it would cost too much.
Source: Heartland Chicago Conference 2010

DEEDS

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

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

Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15.
Source: Heartland Institute 2005 IRS Form 990

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 in an FAQ section. This site is now home to the Climate Wiki, which masquerades as a ligitimate reference for climate science.
Source: Climate wiki

The New York Times has called Heartland “The primary American organization pushing climate change skepticism.” Heartland pushes climate denial by promoting the denial of climate change science and attacking legitimate climate scientists. Heartland has made fighting climate legislation a central priority for their organization over the last decade, according to fundraising documents.
Source: Polluterwatch profile - Heartland Institute

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: Exxon Education Foundation Dimensions 1998 report

2000
$115,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Climate Change
Source: ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990

2001
$90,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2001 Worldwide Giving Report

2002
$15,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2002 Worldwide Giving Report

2003
$7,500 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
19th Aniversary Benefit Dinner
Source: ExxonMobil 2003 Worldwide Giving Report

2003
$85,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
General Operating Support
Source: ExxonMobil 2003 Worldwide Giving Report

2004
$10,000 Exxon Corporation
Climate Change Activities
Source: ExxonMobil 2004 Worldwide Giving Report

2004
$15,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Climate Change Efforts
Source: ExxonMobil 2004 Worldwide Giving Report

2004
$75,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
General Operating Support
Source: ExxonMobil 2004 Worldwide Giving Report

2005
$29,000 ExxonMobil Foundation
Source: ExxonMobil 2005 Worldwide Giving Report

2005
$90,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 2005 Worldwide Giving Report

2006
$90,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
General Operating Support
Source: ExxonMobil 2006 Worldwide Giving Report

2006
$10,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Anniversary benefit dinner
Source: ExxonMobil 2006 Worldwide Giving Report

2006
$15,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
general operating support
Source: ExxonMobil 2006 Worldwide Giving Report

KEY PEOPLE

PEOPLE

SOURCES

ExxonMobil 2001 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4388

ExxonMobil 2002 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4386

ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4390

Exxon Education Foundation Dimensions 1998 report
Exxon Dimensions report 1998- Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4385

Heartland material, present at 3/16/97 conference
Heartland material, present at 3/16/97 conference

"Corporate-funded Lobbyists Aimed to Sabotage Johannesburg Summit," Africa News, 8/19/2002

"Lawmakers, Groups Sue Over National Assessment on Climate Change," Greenwire, 10/5/2000

Heartland Institute website 4/04
http://www.heartland.org

Heartland Institute "Instant Expert Guide: Global Warming"
http://www.heartland.org/pdf/ieguide.pdf

ExxonMobil 2003 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4389

Heartland website
http://www.heartland.org/policybot/results/15197/Heartland_President_Addresses_CommonSense_Environmentalism.html

Chicago Tribune - Wojick LTE
David Wojick Letter to the Editor at Chicago Tribune May 3, 2005
http://heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=16972

Heartland website 10/01/04
Global Warming Computer Models Seriously Flawed, Studies Show Patrick J. Michaels, S. Fred Singer, and David H. Douglass Written By: Patrick J. Michaels, S. Fred Singer, and David H. Douglass Published In: Environment News Publication Date: October 1, 2004 Publisher: The Heartland Institute
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=15727

ExxonMobil 2004 Worldwide Giving Report
2004 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4380

ExxonMobil 2005 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4387

Heartland Institute Website (2006)
http://www.heartland.org/article.cfm?artId=16208

Heartland Institute website 2007
http://www.heartland.org/

Heartland Institute - HeartlandGlobalWarming.org
http://www.globalwarmingheartland.org/

Heartland Institute website 2004
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=14877

Heartland Institute Expert bio - Robert Buford
http://www.heartland.org/SpeakersBureauArticle.cfm?sbrId=13

Heartland Institute 2005 IRS Form 990
PDF pg 15
http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/309/2005-363309812-0295fbb2-9.pdf

Heartland Institute staff list May 2007
Karnick bio: http://www.heartland.org/StaffDetail.cfm?expertId=106
http://www.heartland.org/staff.cfm

Heartland news release
News release from Heartland president Joseph L Bast posted on website.
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=20873

ExxonMobil 2006 Worldwide Giving Report
Public Information and Policy Research downloaded from Exxon website
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4381

Heartland institute article
Article by Heartland President Joseph Bast, published in The Heartlander
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=20549

Heartland Institute website - Energy Policy for America guidebook
Energy Policy for America, A Guidebook for State Legislators by Joseph L. Bast, President, The Heartland Institute and Sandy Liddy Bourne, Vice President, The Heartland Institute
http://www.heartland.org/books/energyguide.cfm

Heartland's environmental issue suite
Heartland president Joseph Bast and James M Taylor
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=10488

The LIstener, New Zealand
Report on Heartland Institute funding New Zealand and Australian sceptics to go to the UNFCCC conference in Bali, December 2007.
http://www.thelistener.co.nz/issue/3541/columnists/10716/some_like_it_hot.html

Heartland New York Conference March 2008
Proceedings of 2008 International Conference on Climate Change, New York, March 2-4 2008.
http://www.heartland.org/NewYork08/proceedings.cfm

Real Climate blog on Heartland conference
"What if you held a conference and no (real) scientists came?". Real Climate blog on the invite to the Heartland 08 conference, confirming what speakers were paid ($1000 each) and that their travel and accommdation would also be paid by Heartland.
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2008/01/what-if-you-held-a-conference-and-no-real-scientists-came/

Heartland 2010 Climate Conference Speaker List
More than 70 speakers will make keynote presentations or participate in panel discussions at the Fourth International Conference on Climate Change, May 16-18, 2010 in Chicago.
http://www.heartland.org/events/2010Chicago/speakers.html

Heartland Chicago Conference 2010
speakers list, Heartland International Conference on Climate Change, Chicago, 16-18 May 2010.
http://www.heartland.org/events/2010Chicago/speakers.html

American Energy Freedom Center
a project of the Institute for Energy Research
http://www.energyfreedomcenter.org/blog/

ncpa.org
http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/st285.pdf

Institute of Public Affairs website
http://www.ipa.org.au/

Heartland Climate Conference 6
http://climateconference.heartland.org/about-2/speakers/

heartland - evans writing
http://www.heartland.org/policybot/byauthor/25970/David_Evans

Heartland Pacific Rim Conference 2010
http://www.heartland.org/events/2010PacRim/speakers.html

Heartland global warming experts list
http://www.globalwarmingheartland.org/

Climate wiki
http://www.climatewiki.org/index.php/Main_Page

Heartland Institute - Alan B. Smith
"Alan B. Smith," Heartland Experts, Heartland Institute website, obtained 29 Mar 2012.
http://heartland.org/alan-b-smith

PolluterWatch Heartland leaked documents investigations
"INVESTIGATION #3: PAYMENTS TO UNIVERSITY FACULTY FOR “CLIMATE CHANGE RECONSIDERED” ANTI-SCIENCE REPORTS," Greenpeace Investigates Heartland Institute Leaked Documents, PolluterWatch, 2012.
http://www.polluterwatch.com/greenpeace-investigates-heartland-institute-leaked-documents

Polluterwatch profile - Heartland Institute
http://www.polluterwatch.com/heartland-institute

12th International Conference on Climate Change
http://climateconference.heartland.org/speakers/