An ExxonMobil-funded think tank is offering scientists or economists $10,000 to dispute the international climate report released last week that attributes climate change to human activities, the London Guardian reported. The American Enterprise Institute will also pay for travel expenses and make additional payments in an attempt to undercut the findings of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), whose report is widely regarded as the most comprehensive review of the state of climate change science. AEI has received more than $1.6 million from ExxonMobil, and former ExxonMobil head Lee Raymond serves as vice-chairman of its board of trustees. In the wake of this revelation, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights called on Congress to subpoena ExxonMobil's records and probe the oil giant's funding of organizations involved in disputing global warming.

Meanwhile, another ExxonMobil-funded think tank held a press conference today to release a report attacking the IPCC's findings. The conservative Fraser Institute, which has received $120,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998, claimed the IPCC report released last week was a "negotiated text that is not produced by the scientific community." In fact, the IPCC report was written by some of the world's most respected climate scientists without political interference, while the Fraser report's staff includes about 50 junior and retired scientists, many of whom have connections to the energy industry.

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Reg policy articles this time:

Media, Congress Begin to Examine Bush's Executive Order on Regulatory Process

Congress Steps Up Oversight of Executive Branch

Yesterday, President Bush released his budget for FY 2008. Many of the president's budgetary priorities are hostile toward Americans, but three will particularly hinder the federal government's ability to regulate.

• Bush is calling for a $300 million slash in the EPA's budget. In a press statement, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson defended the cut, proving he is more interested in toeing the administration line than sticking up for his own agency or protecting the environment.
• Bush is also continuing his war on climate science by cutting the budget of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) by seven percent, according to BNA news service (subscription).
• Finally, Bush is calling for only a nominal increase in the budget of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the independent agency that is charged with recalling potentially dangerous products. The increase amounts to a budget cut when adjusted for inflation. According to BNA, the proposal includes calls for the lowest staffing levels in the agency's history.

On Tuesday, the House Government and Oversight Committee, captained by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), held an oversight hearing investigating the Bush administration's meddling in climate science. The hearing featured the release of a joint report by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Government Accountability Project. The good people over at Think Progress have summarized the report, in which about half of the scientists interviewed report some kind of interference. There are 435 instances of manipulation reported. Try to pick your favorite.

Waxman was provoked into holding the hearing when the Bush administration repeatedly refused to allow Congress to review certain documents related to global climate change. At the hearing, Waxman announced he will be re-requesting those documents. Hopefully, with the issue gaining more media attention, the administration will not continue to misinform the public on global warming.

The Bush Assault on "Global Warming"

On a similar note, the Bush administration appears to be waging war on "global warming." No, not the environmental crisis, just the phrase.

At the hearing, Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) revealed that Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte is prohibited from using the phrase "global warming." Read more on that here.

In another effort, rumors are flying on the blogosphere that the White House website search function turns up only one result when users search for “global warming.” Keep your eye out for more on this lame attempt to censor legitimate science.



Posted by Matt Madia, 04:20:09 PM