Category Archives: Corporate Front Organizations and Think Tanks

DeSmog Investigation – Archival Documents Reveal Oil Companies Funded Climate Science in 1954 – Were Told 70 Years Ago That CO2 Emissions Could Impact “Civilization”

These documents were uncovered by Rebecca John as part of her investigation into the oil and gas industry’s early knowledge of climate science and its response to this knowledge. Reported with links to documents via DeSmog on January 30, 2024 and November 12, 2024 New Evidence Reveals Fossil Fuel Industry Sponsored Climate Science in 1954 […]

Weather Denial Documents

Below is an annotated collection of documents gathered through the years amassing evidence of corporate efforts to deny the connection between climate change and extreme weather events.   There are two major blocks of evidence: They knew climate change would cause extreme weather: Corporate entities “knew” extreme weather would be an impact of anthropogenic climate change. […]

2017 Green Tyranny: “The Truth About Climate Change”

This video is part of John Stossel’s “Green Tyranny” series. Green Tyranny originally aired on  Fox until Stossel began working with the Koch-funded Reason Foundation. Stossel was a host on Fox Business before switching to YouTube as his primary media platform.   The Green Tyranny series is comprised of short videos that focus on a […]

2014 Western States Petroleum Association climate deception campaign

This 2014 document contains a presentation given by the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA). The presentation begins by painting environmentalists and the climate change movement as bringing about, “the worst of times” for the fossil fuel industry. The presentation then details WSPA’s various campaigns and coalitions focused on “respond[ing] to aggressive anti-oil initiatives in the West” and “provid[ing] an opportunity for the […]

2014 Fred Singer “Merchants of Doubt” Emails

This is a leaked email from climate denialist Fred Singer to bloggers, scientists, peers, and public relations experts regarding the release of the documentary “Merchants of Doubt,” which profiles Singer (along with many of the people to whom he sent this email) as part of the network of climate change denial and legislative delay on […]

2012 Cato Addendum “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States”

This unofficial “addendum” to the assessment by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (now the Global Change Research Program) on “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States” was published by the Cato Institute in 2012. The Cato report was designed to be nearly identical to the government’s report, but the content is contradictory and […]

2010 Michaels CNN Interview Admitting Funding from Oil

This is an excerpt of a 2010 CNN interview with Cato Institute’s Director of Center for the Study of Science, Patrick Michaels. The interview reflects his admission  that roughly 40% of his research funding came from the oil industry. Zakaria: Let me ask you what people wonder about you, about advocates like you. you know, […]

2009 Patrick Michaels’ Inconsistent Curriculum Vitae Presented to Congress

In February 2009, Patrick Michaels appeared before the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment to testify on “The Climate Crisis: National Security, Public Health, and Economic Threats.” He submitted a CV to the subcommittee which came under scrutiny for its omissions regarding Michaels’ financial and professional history with the fossil fuel industry. It also omits experience […]

2008 Patrick Michaels Interview in Cato Institute Newsletter

An interview with climatologist Patrick Michaels, the current Director of the Center for the Study of Science at the Cato Institute and past president of the American Association of State Climatologists. In the interview, Michaels diminishes carbon’s effect on global warming, dismisses rising global temperatures, and advocates for a “do nothing” public policy approach to […]

2007 Affidavit of Patrick Michaels in Case of Green Mountain Chrysler v. Crombie

This affidavit from Patrick Michaels, a known climate skeptic with deep ties to fossil fuel interests, reflects his participation in a 2007 lawsuit over Vermont’s changes to fuel emissions standards for new automobiles. Michaels is the Director of the Center for the Study of Science at the Cato Institute, a conservative think-tank created and funded […]