Conspiracy or conspiracy theory? Did ExxonMobil pay off scientists to discredit global warming?
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, ExxonMobil gave $16 million to 43 ideological groups between 1998 and 2005 in a coordinated effort to mislead the public by discrediting the science behind global warming. This backs up the claims by Britain's leading scientific academy, The Royal Society, who in September wrote the oil company asking it to halt support for groups that "misrepresented the science of climate change."
According to ExxonMobil's web site, $6.8 million of nearly $133 million in 2005 contributions globally for "public information and policy research" was distributed to more than 140 think-tanks, universities, foundations, associations and other groups. Some of those have publicly disputed the link between greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
In September, ExxonMobil admitted that it donates to companies that research "significant policy issues and promote informed discussion on issues of direct relevance to the company."
Alden Meyer, a leading member of the Union of Concerned Scientists, says that ExxonMobil mirrored tactics used by tobacco companies, spreading uncertainty by misrepresenting peer-reviewed scientific studies or cherry-picking facts. Dr. James McCarthy, a professor at Harvard University, said the company has sought to "create the illusion of a vigorous debate" about global warming.
If these claims prove true, nobody would argue with their successes, as can be seen here and here.
Related:
[Source: yahoo.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 2:04PM (1/04/2007)
Read this book and judge for yourself. http://internalcombustionbook.com http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autobloggreen/audiointerviews/edwinblack.mp3 Personally, I think they are guided by greed and are capable of virtually anything.
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1985 Gripen 2:19PM (1/04/2007)
Yeah, well if that were true it sure didn't pay off for ExxonMobil! The poor bastards only made a profit of... wait:
They made a PROFIT (not revenue, profit.) of over 10 BILLION DOLLARS in the 2nd quarter of 2006 alone? That's in a THREE MONTH PERIOD! Crikey!
Well, it sure is a good think our Federal government (read: US, the taxpayers) don't charge them to drill on Federally-owned lands. That might take a bite out of those profits. Egad!
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Scatter 3:25PM (1/04/2007)
Apologies if this is a repost but it's well worth reading this quite alarming article about the origins of climate change denial funding by George Monbiot, a journalist from the UK:
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,1875762,00.html
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