This document is a February 3, 1995 News Release from the Global Climate Coalition (GCC). The News Releases generally updated readers on climate change policy and science developments, often complementing the GCC’s Climate Watch Bulletins. News Releases were a part of GCC’s larger mission to oppose greenhouse gas regulations and contest the scientific validity of anthropogenic climate change through direct engagement and collaboration with affiliated climate deniers. GCC corporate membership spanned across the automotive, utility, manufacturing, petroleum, and mining industries.

This News Release highlights a report from Accu-weather, commissioned by the GCC, which concludes that, “No convincing evidence exists to support claims that hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme temperature and precipitation events are on the rise.” Countering “proponents of global warming theories” this finding “seriously challenges perceptions that global warming is leading to an increase in hurricanes, floods and other weather-related catastrophes,” according to the release.

Highlights of the full Accu-weather report mentioned in the release include:

1. “On the question of global warming, the report’s authors agree with most climate experts that global temperatures have risen slightly (about one degree Fahrenheit) over the past century. However, they conclude that the small temperature increase is not in phase with the increases in so-called greenhouse gases. The authors note that the majority of the slight temperature increase occurred before 1940, while the majority of greenhouse emissions occurred well after 1940.”
2. Access to better communication devices and increased media coverage “contributes to the illusion of an increase in these events. But the illusion is easily shattered by the facts.”
3. “In fact, the data show that hurricane frequency is not increasing, the number of violent tornadoes is not increasing, and temperature and precipitation extremes are no more common now than they were 50 to 100 years ago.”

In addition to the full Accu-weather report, Climate Files also hosts a summary fact sheet, author resumes, and other related materials.

This document is part of the private collection of Nicky Sundt, a Washington-based climate change science, policy and communications expert.

Interested in more GCC documents? See more in the full Global Climate Coalition collection.