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

Summary 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 […]

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. Partial Transcription Zakaria: Let me ask you what people wonder about you, about advocates like you. […]

2009 forged letters from coal industry to Congress

Summary This document collection features a compilation of several letters discovered in 2009 written to members of Congress in  opposition to climate legislation called the American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill. The letters were forged by a subcontractor to a PR firm hired by the American Coalition for Clean Coal […]

2009 Patrick Michaels’ Inconsistent Curriculum Vitae Presented to Congress

Summary 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 […]

2008 Patrick Michaels Interview in Cato Institute Newsletter

Summary 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 […]

2008 financial contributions from Exxon to Dr. Willie Soon

Summary This compilation of documents contains contracts and correspondence related to scientist Wei Hock “Willie” Soon, his climate change research and his relationship with the corporate oil industry. Willie Soon’s climate change research has been consistently cited by parties seeking to doubt the human effect on climate change. Coincidentally, documents reveal that Soon received massive funding from the oil industry, especially Exxon, in relation […]

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

Summary 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 […]

2007 Transcript of Glenn Beck’s “Exposed: The Climate of Fear” on CNN

Summary This is the transcript of an hour-long “special report” edition of Glenn Beck’s Headline News show on CNN, aired May 2, 2007 and titled “Exposed: The Climate of Fear.” The show, which Beck proclaimed would present “the other side of the climate debate,” features many prominent industry-funded climate skeptics such as Patrick Michaels, John […]

2007 Statement of Dr. James McCarthy Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight House Science Committee

Summary March 28, 2007 testimony of James McCarthy, Professor of Biological Oceanography at Harvard University and former co-chair of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Third IPCC Assessment) testifying that Bush Administration appointees and a network of organizations funded ExxonMobil distorted and suppressed climate science, so as to confuse the American […]

2007 Speech by ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to CERAweek

Summary This document contains a 2007 speech by Exxon’s CEO Rex Tillerson. His speech titled, “The State of the Energy Industry: Strengths, Realities, and Solutions” opened CERAWeek 2007, an annual international gathering of energy industry leaders, officials and policymakers. Tillerson begins by detailing the oil industry’s achievements, which includes “a record of accomplishment in ongoing […]