Anthony Watts

Anthony Watts

Credentials

Background

Anthony Watts is a former television weatherman best known as the founder and editor of the blog Watts Up With That (WUWT), which primarily publishes articles critical of mainstream climate change science. Watts joined the Heartland Institute, a think tank proudly at the forefront of promoting doubt about climate change, as a Senior Fellow in 2019.3About,” WUWT. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xiJbm 4PRESS RELEASE: ANTHONY WATTS JOINS THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE,” Heartland Institute, April 5, 2019. Archived April 10, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KIoIz

Watts is the director and president of IntelliWeather Inc., a weather graphics company alternatively known as Innovative Tech Works (ITWorks), and Weathershop. Watts also founded Surfacestations.org, a project with the stated purpose of documenting the siting quality of weather stations in the United States.5About,” WUWT. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xiJbm 6About,” Surfacestations.org. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/g0AW4

Watts previously worked as an on-air weatherman for WLFI-TV in Lafayette, Indiana, and later joined KHSK-TV in 1987. In 2002, Watts left his position as a television weatherman to devote time to his private business, ITWorks. He returned to work part-time at KHSL in 2004, and has also been the chief weatherman for KPAY-AM (an affiliate of Fox News) since 2002.7Everybody’s Business,” NewsReview.com, June 17, 2004. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8rTWh 8Contact,” KPAY 1290. Archived September 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WFTKi

Watts admits he is ”not a degreed climate scientist.” He formerly held an American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval. An important distinction: this is not the same as being ”AMS Certified,” as some sources have inaccurately claimed of Watts. Rather, the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval is a discontinued credential that does not require a bachelor’s or higher degree in atmospheric science or meteorology. The American Meteorological Society reserves its separate “AMS Certified” designation for its Certified Broadcast Meteorologists and Certified Consulting Meteorologists, and Watts was neither.9About,” WUWT. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xiJbm 10List of AMS Television Seal Holders,” ametsoc.org. Archived March 7, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Tilin 11Warming Scare Tactics: Skeptical Scientists,” Warmingscaretactics.com. Archived February 13, 2009. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/s3yKj 12REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AMS SEAL OF APPROVAL PROGRAM,” ametsoc.org. Archived July 6, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Pga3e

Watts’s “About” page mentions neither his Purdue attendance nor whether he graduated. Email correspondence between SourceWatch and Purdue University confirm he attended from August, 1975 to May, 1982, however registrar staff also confirm it is safe to assume that Watts attained no qualification from the university.13About,” WUWT. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xiJbm 14Email correspondence between Sourcewatch and Purdue University registrar, via Sourcewatch profile of Anthony Watts. Accessed February, 2015.

According to leaked documents released in 2012, Watts has received funding from the Heartland Institute.15Brendan DeMelle. “Heartland Institute Exposed: Internal Documents Unmask Heart of Climate Denial Machine,” Desmog, February 14, 2012.

Comments Surrounding 2021 Capitol Insurrection

Anthony Watts was among dozens of the individuals and organizations profiled in DeSmog’s Disinformation Database who posted online or gave interviews about the events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection. Some posted claims of election fraud, similar to those that drove the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6. Some circulated dubious information about the insurrection itself. DeSmog has preserved a selection of notable posts related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, including some that were later deleted or removed.

On Jan. 6, 2021, Watts posted an article on Facebook claiming antifa had “infiltrated” the Capitol insurrection. On Jan. 7, 2021, BuzzFeed News investigated that article and found that the company cited by that article “says it’s ‘outright false.’” The Washington Post also reported on Jan. 7, 2021, in response to similar claims, “In fact, many of the Trump supporters who stormed into the Capitol openly boasted about their participation, live-streaming as they forced their way past police and bashed the building’s doors and windows.”16Rowan Scarborough. “Facial recognition firm claims Antifa infiltrated Trump protesters who stormed Capitol,” The Washington Times, January 6, 2021. Archived January 7, 2021. Archive URL:https://archive.vn/SBRvA 17Craig Silverman. “A Facial Recognition Company Says That Viral Washington Times ‘Antifa’ Story Is False,” BuzzFeed News, January 7, 2021. Archived February 12, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/47NDU 18Teo Armus. “Rep. Matt Gaetz and other GOP politicians baselessly suggest antifa is to blame for pro-Trump mob rioting into Capitol,” The Washington Post, January 7, 2021. Archived February 12, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/8ogtC 19How pro-Trump insurrectionists broke into the U.S. Capitol,” The Washington Post, January 6, 2021. Archived February 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/H9tVy 20Andrea Salcedo. “GOP West Virginia state delegate live-streams as he storms Congress with pro-Trump mob: ‘We’re going in!’The Washington Post, January 7, 2021. Archived February 12, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/iXmob

The Washington Times since edited the story with a correction noting that the earlier version of the story “incorrectly stated that XRVision facial recognition software identified Antifa members among rioters who stormed the Capitol Wednesday. XRVision did not identify any Antifa members.”21Rowan Scarborough. “CORRECTED: Facial recognition identifies extremists storming the Capitol,” The Washington Times, Archived February 12, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/gzjir

Stance on Climate Change

“While I have a skeptical view of certain climate issues, I consider myself ‘green’ in many ways,” Watts notes in the “About” section of WUWT.22About,” WUWT. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xiJbm

September 2012

In an interview with PBS NewsHour, Watts said that he formerly believed in global warming but that his opinion changed over time:23Conversation with global warming skeptic Anthony Watts,” YouTube video uploaded by user “PBS NEwsHour,” September 17, 2012. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

“I, at one time, was was very much embracing the whole concept that we had a real problem, we had to do something about it. Back in 1988, James Hansen actually was the impetus for that for me, in his presentation before congress.

But as I learned more and more about the issue, I discovered that maybe it’s not as bad as it’s made out to be. Some of it is hype. But there’s also some data that has not been explored, and there’s been some investigations that need to be done that haven’t been done. And so now I’m in the camp of we have some global warming, no doubt about it, but it may not be as bad as we originally thought because there are other contributing factors.”

2009

“I would call myself what some people describe as a ‘lukewarmer’ in that the CO2 effect that people have done thousands of studies on is in fact real. However, it is not a crisis. The reason it is not a crisis is because most people do not understand the logarithmic nature of the CO2 response in our atmosphere,” Watts said in an interview.24Talking Climate Change With Anthony Watts,” Stories In The News, April 22, 2009. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/axdXF

2008

Writing at WUWT, Watts said he was “at one time been fully engaged in the belief that CO2 was indeed the root cause of the global warming problem.”25Anthony Watts. “Gore to throw insults on 60 minutes,” WUWT, March 27, 2008. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/rn3pu

Key Quotes

December 2015

Describing the results of his Surfacestations.org study, Watts said:

“The majority of weather stations used by NOAA to detect climate change temperature signal have been compromised by encroachment of artificial surfaces like concrete, asphalt, and heat sources like air conditioner exhausts.”26Anthony Watts. “Press Release – Watts at #AGU15 The quality of temperature station siting matters for temperature trends,” WUWT, December 17, 2015. Archived September 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/aiCak

May 5, 2014

Anthony Watts publishes a post on his blog, Watts Up With That, entitled, “Houston, we have a dumbass problem,” following a February 24 Oval Office meeting, and subsequent Washington Post article, where two of President Obama’s top climate advisers presented “sharply-contrasting images of California’s snowpack on Jan. 13, 2013 and a year later, as a way to underscore how global warming is changing conditions on the ground in the United States.”27Houston, we have a dumbass problem,” Watts Up With That, May 5, 2014. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zRPiF 28Juliet Eilperin. “For President Obama, a renewed focus on climate,” Washington Post, May 4, 2014. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tDfpV

“So tell me, oh geniuses, what will you show the President after the looming El Niño kicks in later this year, and California has a wetter than normal year during the winter of 2014/15 and the snow pack goes up to something like 146% of normal? What then? Blame that on global warming and call it another “Houston we have a problem” moment when we get flooding in California like in 1997/1998 after that big EL Niño changed the weather pattern in a single year to drench the state? The lack of snowpack in 2014 is all about ENSO and resulting jet stream patterns, something well known for years.”29Houston, we have a dumbass problem,” Watts Up With That, May 5, 2014. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zRPiF

August 20, 2013

“How is the IPCC 95% certain one side [of the graph] is caused by man and the other is not?” Watts wrote at WUWT.30When somebody hits you with that new ‘IPCC is 95% certain’ talking point on global warming, show them this,” Watts Up With That, August 20, 2013. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/m295Z

2009

“The conclusion is inescapable: The U.S. temperature record is unreliable,” Watts wrote at WUWT.31Anthony Watts. “Is the U.S. Surface Temperature Record Reliable?” (PDF), SurfaceStations.org, 2009. Retrieved February, 2012 from server at Watts Up With That Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/u7uAh

April 2009

“Antarctic ice is above normal. And the global total amount of sea ice is above normal. So it’s not disappearing any time soon,” Watts wrote at WUWT.32Talking Climate Change With Anthony Watts,” Stories In The News, April 22, 2009. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/axdXF

December, 2007

“I believe that our [man-made] contribution [to climate change] may be far less than has been postulated. Our measurement network has been compromised—not intentionally, but accidentally and through carelessness,” Watts wrote at WUWT.33Evan Tuchinsky. “Watts, me worry?”, Newsreview.com, December 6, 2007. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/RGHbe

Key Deeds

September 24, 2020

Watts appeared in Marc Morano’s 2020 film Climate Hustle 2: Rise of the Climate Monarchy, produced by the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT). During a discussion in which climate science denier Craig Richardson disputed the effectiveness of renewable energy, stating:34 Climate Hustle 2: Rise of the Climate Monarchy. CFACT/ CDR Communications, Inc., 2020

“You can’t even have 10 percent renewable energy without the prices going skyrocketing, which directly impacts everybody’s life.” Watts responded: “And so it [renewable energy] will never be an equivalent to what we have for fossil fuel, coal-based type power, or nuclear power or hydropower. All of which provide steady sources of electricity.”

August 18, 2020

Watts wrote at RedState, suggesting green energy mandates were the cause of recent blackouts in California. According to Watts, “California has traded energy security to kneel before the false prophet of green energy. Instead of using reliable and affordable nuclear and coal plants, they are using intermittent and unreliable wind and solar power. And the people of California, and perhaps the West in general, may pay the price for that homage if the power grid collapses during the ongoing heat wave.”35Anthony Watts. “Thanks to Green Energy Mandates, California’s Electric Grid Is Near Collapse,” Redstate, August 18, 2020. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/D5Wkv

At least one energy expert has suggested at least one of the recent blackouts could have been due to issues with natural gas generation:36California has first rolling blackouts in 19 years — and everyone faces blame,” Politico, August 18, 2020. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/xVgFD

“What’s weird about what happened is they were adequate until they weren’t,” Michael Wara, director of Stanford University’s climate and energy program and a member of the state’s Catastrophic Wildfire Cost and Recovery Commission told Politico. “It seems as if certain power plants for some reason were not able to deliver on the commitments to supply reserves and also supply energy.”37California has first rolling blackouts in 19 years — and everyone faces blame,” Politico, August 18, 2020. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/xVgFD

“Because the Friday outage started around 6:30 p.m., when solar is ramping down and gas-fired plants are ramping up, gas is the likely immediate culprit, Wara said. “The timing of all this strongly suggests problems with gas plants,” he said.38California has first rolling blackouts in 19 years — and everyone faces blame,” Politico, August 18, 2020. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/xVgFD

September 17, 2019

Watts hosted an episode of the Heartland Daily Podcast with guest Ross McKitrick, who attempted to debunk mainstream scientific analyses of climate change caused by fossil fuel consumption.39Finding Fault in the Hockey Stick (Guest: Dr. Ross McKitrick),” The Heartland Daily Podcast, September 17, 2019. Retrieved from SoundCloud. Archived .mp3 on file at Desmog.

Watts asked McKitrick:

“Do we have an existential threat or is it just something that might just be a mild change for us?”40Finding Fault in the Hockey Stick (Guest: Dr. Ross McKitrick),” The Heartland Daily Podcast, September 17, 2019. Retrieved from SoundCloud. Archived .mp3 on file at Desmog.

To which McKitrick responded:

“We do put a lot of CO2 into the air. Using fossil fuels has led to a large amount of CO2 going into the atmosphere over a fairly short period of time. And I think in a sense we’ve dodged a bullet, because it turns out, from the evidence that I’ve seen and I think the evidence out there, that the effect of this extra CO2 is very much on the low end of the scale from what it could have been. […]

“Even if the upper end of the global warming projections turned out to be valid, we still might, on economic grounds, just say it’s still too good a deal to pass up.

“We’re going to live with the consequences and we’re going to keep using fossil fuels. But it’s even better than that. I think the best evidence says, no, we’ll probably get a bit of warming from CO2 but it’s going to be on the low end and it’s a mix of good and bad changes to the climate, and it’s also just stuff that we can adapt to over time.”41Finding Fault in the Hockey Stick (Guest: Dr. Ross McKitrick),” The Heartland Daily Podcast, September 17, 2019. Retrieved from SoundCloud. Archived .mp3 on file at Desmog.

Watts agreed with McKitrick’s perspective:

“Humans are tremendously adaptable. We’ve adapted to every climate in the world. People live everywhere in the world, from the arctic to the tropics to the deserts. So, yeah, humans are very adaptable.”42Finding Fault in the Hockey Stick (Guest: Dr. Ross McKitrick),” The Heartland Daily Podcast, September 17, 2019. Retrieved from SoundCloud. Archived .mp3 on file at Desmog.

April 5, 2019

Watts joined the Heartland Institute as a senior fellow for environment on climate. According to the Heartland press release:43PRESS RELEASE: ANTHONY WATTS JOINS THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE,The Heartland Institute, April 5, 2019. Archived April 10, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KIoIz

“The people at Heartland are working from a reality-based viewpoint of the climate issue saying in effect, ‘Hey wait a minute, look at this,’ to the people that would follow the path of climate alarmism hook, line, and sinker,” Watts said. “Despite having a tiny fraction of the budget and social media outreach some green organizations have, they have done a fantastic job of countering climate alarmism.

“Laughably, my critics have said for years that I have been ‘on the payroll’ of Heartland in some ‘nefarious capacity,’ even though I’ve never been on their payroll. I figure I might as well give these folks something factual to talk about now instead of just innuendo and smear campaigns,” Watts said.

“I credit the efforts of Heartland in President Trump’s decision to exit from the Paris Climate Accord,” Watts added. “What reality-based climate skeptic wouldn’t want to be on that winning team? I look forward to being able to help Heartland dispel fear and overreaction to climate hysteria by providing factual essays and research that helps policy makers with climate related decisions.”

Heartland’s president Tim Huelskamp praised Watts as “truly a leader in the climate movement.”44PRESS RELEASE: ANTHONY WATTS JOINS THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE,The Heartland Institute, April 5, 2019. Archived April 10, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KIoIz

“I am honored that he has chosen to join The Heartland Institute,” Huelskamp said. “His energy, experience and scientific expertise will make an enormous, immediate positive impact on the Heartland team.”

Heartland senior fellow James Taylor said:45PRESS RELEASE: ANTHONY WATTS JOINS THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE,The Heartland Institute, April 5, 2019. Archived April 10, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KIoIz

“I look forward to working with Anthony presenting the compelling scientific evidence on climate change issues that the environmental left and their media allies do their best to ignore and sweep under the rug.”

In 2012, DeSmog exposed the Heartland Institute’s history of funding climate change denial with the help of leaked internal documents. Those documents also revealed Heartland was funding a website for Anthony Watts to “track temperature station data” with a pledge to raise $90,000 in that year. Heartland has faced criticism for its extreme views on climate change, with a notable example being its billboard campaign comparing those who believe in established climate science to the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.46Brendan DeMelle. “Heartland Institute Exposed: Internal Documents Unmask Heart of Climate Denial Machine,” DeSmog, February 14, 2012. 47Leo Hickman. “Heartland Institute compares belief in global warming to mass murder,The Guardian, May 4, 2012. Archived Jan 22, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/lK2qd

October 22, 2018

On his blog, Watts speculated that Hurricane Willa “may stop migrant caravan as it slams into Mexico,” referring to the thousands of Honduran refugees attempting to seek asylum in the United States. Watts cited a NOAA/National Hurricane Center graphic that forecast the projected path of the storm.48Joe Romm. “Denier claims ‘Hurricane Willa may stop migrant caravan’, is quickly debunked by other denier,” Think Progress, October 23, 2018. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/R6zfT 49Anthony Watts. “Cat5 #HurricaneWilla may stop migrant caravan as it slams Mexico,” Watts Up With That? October 22, 2018. Archived October 29, 2018. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/Z4bpE

Watts’ theory was quickly debunked by fellow climate change science denier Joe Bastardi, who pointed out that the migrants were far removed from the storm’s path.50Joe Romm. “Denier claims ‘Hurricane Willa may stop migrant caravan’, is quickly debunked by other denier,” Think Progress, October 23, 2018. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/R6zfT

Watts attempted to clarify his remarks by claiming that the storm’s impacts on roads and bridges would impede the caravan, “even if Soros is busing them there.”51Joe Romm. “Denier claims ‘Hurricane Willa may stop migrant caravan’, is quickly debunked by other denier,” Think Progress, October 23, 2018. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/R6zfT

October 2018

On October 10, 2018, several commenters posted on a Watts Up With That article that had criticized a recent piece by Bill McKibben (the original article was by David Middleton). The commenters, as McKibben later described in a October 20 opinion piece at the New York Times, had threatened violence against him while posting his home address in the WUWT comments section.52David Middleton. “Bill McKibben calls for civil disobedience… Because climate change,” Watts Up With That? October 10, 2018. Archived October 22, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/rEkA4 53Let’s Agree Not to Kill One Another,” The New York Times, October 20, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mTZSG

“[T]here was also this comment, from someone named ‘gnomish:’ ‘There is a protocol worth observing: S.S.S. It stands for shoot, shovel and S.T.F.U. Hope that saves you some trouble,” McKibben noted in his NYT article.

Watts later posted an article on WUWT in response, noting that he had banned the accounts of those who had made the comments targeting McKibben.54Anthony Watts. “McKibben, Mea Culpas, and Mendaciousness,” Watts Up With That? October 22, 2018. Archived October 22, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/fq7w6

“I was shocked these comments somehow slipped through moderation. Had I known about it, I would have immediately deleted them. All of the commenters, “gnomish”, “Gary Ashe”, and “Carbon Bigfoot,” are now banned for this unacceptable behavior,” Watts wrote.

While Watts deleted the comment that had given McKibben’s home address, he opted to leave the others while including inline comments given that “removing them would look like I’m trying to hide something in the face of broader exposure and criticism.”55Anthony Watts. “McKibben, Mea Culpas, and Mendaciousness,” Watts Up With That? October 22, 2018. Archived October 22, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/fq7w6

February 14, 2018

WUWT featured guest commentary by Tim Ball, who said that the recent dismissal of a lawsuit brought against him by climate scientist Andrew Weaver was “a victory for free speech and a blow against the use of the law to silence people.”56Tim Ball’s Victory in the First Climate Lawsuit Judgment – The Backstory,” WUWT, February 14, 2018. Archived February 16, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qHIa9

As DeSmog reported, the judge had decided the throw out the case due to the article not being sufficiently credible to cause damage to a professional climate scientist. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ronald Skolrood said in the judgement:57Richard Littlemore. “Judge Dismisses Libel Claim, Climate ‘Sceptic’ Tim Ball Not Credible Enough To Take Seriously,” DeSmog, February 14, 2018.

”[…] despite Dr. Ball’s history as an academic and a scientist, the Article is rife with errors and inaccuracies, which suggests a lack of attention to detail on Dr. Ball’s part, if not an indifference to the truth,” Justice Skolrood wrote.58Richard Littlemore. “Judge Dismisses Libel Claim, Climate ‘Sceptic’ Tim Ball Not Credible Enough To Take Seriously,” DeSmog, February 14, 2018.

He added later in the judgement:59Richard Littlemore. “Judge Dismisses Libel Claim, Climate ‘Sceptic’ Tim Ball Not Credible Enough To Take Seriously,” DeSmog, February 14, 2018.

“[T]he Article is poorly written and does not advance credible arguments in favour of Dr. Ball’s theory about the corruption of climate science. Simply put, a reasonably thoughtful and informed person who reads the Article is unlikely to place any stock in Dr. Ball’s views, including his views of Dr. Weaver as a supporter of conventional climate science.”60Richard Littlemore. “Judge Dismisses Libel Claim, Climate ‘Sceptic’ Tim Ball Not Credible Enough To Take Seriously,” DeSmog, February 14, 2018.

While the judge agreed that Ball’s intention with the January 2011 Canada Free Press article (titled “Corruption of Climate Science Has Created 30 Lost Years,” since taken down after an apology from CFP for defamatory content).61Richard Littlemore. “Climate Denier Tim Ball: Trump Approved, But Not Credible Enough To Stand Accountable For Libel,” DeSmog, February 14, 2018.

“These allegations are directed at Dr. Weaver’s professional competence and are clearly derogatory of him. Indeed, it is quite apparent that this was Dr. Ball’s intent,” the judge wrote, adding, however, that “It is very unlikely that the Article and the opinions expressed therein had an impact on the views of anyone who read it, including their views, if any, of Dr. Weaver as a climate scientist. Rather, the reasonably thoughtful and informed reader would have recognized the Article as simply presenting one side of a highly charged public debate.”

February 4, 2018

Watts signed and promoted an open letter to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) fighting back against a push to remove climate change denier Rebekah Mercer from the board, DeSmog reported. In January, more than 200 scientists had endorsed an open letter calling on the museum to remove Rebekah Mercer from its board an to “end ties to anti-science propagandists and funders of climate science misinformation.”62Anthony Watts. “An open letter and petition defending the American Museum of Natural History against irrational climate zealotry,” Watts Up With That? February 5, 2018. Archived February 14, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/AQwT0 63amnh18-feb4-petitionletter (PDF – Untitled). Retrieved from Watts Up With That. 64Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Deniers Defend New York’s American Museum of Natural History From Calls to Drop Trustee Rebekah Mercer,” DeSmog, February 6, 2018. 65Robin Pogrebin and Somini Sengupta. “A Science Denier at the Natural History Museum? Scientists Rebel,” The New York Times, January 25, 2018. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tAIv4

The New York Times reported that those among the initial AMNH letter calling for Mercer to step down were Michael E. Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, and Katharine Hayhoe, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University.66Robin Pogrebin and Somini Sengupta. “A Science Denier at the Natural History Museum? Scientists Rebel,” The New York Times, January 25, 2018. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tAIv4

The open letter calling for the AMNH to keep Mercer on the board was signed by many prominent climate change deniers such as Will Happer of the CO2 CoalitionRichard Lindzen, a fellow at the Cato InstituteCraig Idso, the chairman of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change. It calls on the museum “not to cave in to this pressure.” Many signatories are affiliated with groups funded by the Mercer Family Foundation.67amnh18-feb4-petitionletter (PDF – Untitled). Retrieved from Watts Up With That. 68Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Deniers Defend New York’s American Museum of Natural History From Calls to Drop Trustee Rebekah Mercer,” DeSmog, February 6, 2018.

The letter reads: “The Earth has supported abundant life many times in the geological past when there were much higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is quite likely that future generations will benefit from the enrichment of Earth’s atmosphere with more carbon dioxide.”69amnh18-feb4-petitionletter (PDF – Untitled). Retrieved from Watts Up With That. 70Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Deniers Defend New York’s American Museum of Natural History From Calls to Drop Trustee Rebekah Mercer,” DeSmog, February 6, 2018.

July 25, 2017

Watts was listed as a contributor to Climate Change: The Facts 2017, a book released by the Institute for Public Affairs (IPA) and edited by Jennifer Marohasy. While investigating the authors, DeSmog noted that one of the IPA’s listed “leading experts” involved in the book is New Zealand’s Ken Ring, who in addition to being a described “long range weather forecaster” has written “two, possibly three, books about cats” including Pawmistry: How to Read Your Cat’s Paws in 1998.71Graham Readfearn. “Australian Climate Denial Think Tank Picks Cat Author and Moonman Ken Ring as Climate Expert,” DeSmog, April 9, 2017. 72“NEW BOOK – CLIMATE CHANGE: THE FACTS 2017” (PDF), Institute of Public Affairs, July 25, 2017.

According to the book description:73Register your interest now and be the first to hear about the publication of Climate Change: The Facts 2017,” Institute of Public Affairs. Archived April 10, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kvAFK

Climate Change: The Facts 2017 brings together contributions on the latest climate science from some of the world’s leading experts in the field including John Abbot, Sallie Baliunas, Paul Driessen, Tony Heller, Craig Idso, Clive James, Pat Michaels, Jo Nova, Ian Plimer, Tom Quirk, Peter Ridd, Ken Ring, Nicola Scafetta, Willie Soon, Roy Spencer, and Anthony Watts.

There are also essays by Matt Ridley, and Bjørn Lomborg on the economics of climate change, and by Simon Breheny on how the freedom to discuss climate change science is under threat.”

Prior versions of the book featured contributions from a range of prominent climate change deniers, and describes mainstream climate change research as “pseudo-science.”74Climate Change: The facts 2014,” Catallaxyfiles.com. Archived October 31, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Trs4Y

June 14, 2017

Watts announced in a blog post at WUWT that he would be taking some time off after over 10 years of maintaining his blog. As part of his vacation, he solicits donations to help fund his time away:75WUWT at 10+ years – I need some help, please,” Watts Up With That?, June 14, 2017. Archived July 13, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WZ9RH

“Here is what I want to do: Take a month off. Disconnect. Then come back fresh. […] To do that though, and keep WUWT running, requires help. […] I’m asking for two things: help with content/moderating, and some donations, so that I can choose a place to go disconnect, and not worry. I don’t want a staycation, and if that darned Koch Brothers check that many Mann-like people seem to think I’m getting would just show up in the mailbox, I’d not have to ask.”76WUWT at 10+ years – I need some help, please,” Watts Up With That?, June 14, 2017. Archived July 13, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WZ9RH

Watts also lists a project for “a temperature data study” for which he would need funds to purchase equipment. In the post, Watts lists self-reported stats for Watts Up With That over the prior 10 year period:77WUWT at 10+ years – I need some help, please,” Watts Up With That?, June 14, 2017. Archived July 13, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WZ9RH

January 5, 2017

Anthony Watts was a signatory to a Cornwall Alliance open letter supporting Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator under the Trump administration.79Open Letter Supporting Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator,” Cornwall Alliance, January 5, 2017. Archived January 19, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xMash

“Mr. Pruitt has also demonstrated understanding of and open-mindedness toward scientific insights crucial to the formulation and implementation of environmental regulation. He is prepared to hear all sides in debates over the risks and benefits of various activities that come under the purview of the EPA,” reads the letter.

On January 12, 2017, Senate Democrats raised conflict of interest concerns regarding Scott Prutt’s fossil fuel ties. Pruitt had spent years working to combat the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan.80Ben Jervey. “Mapping EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt’s Many Fossil Fuel Ties,” DeSmog, January 13, 2017.

In an open letter to the Office of Government Ethics, members of the Senate’s environmental panel commented:

“During his tenure as Attorney General of Oklahoma, Mr. Pruitt has blurred the distinction between official and political actions, often at the behest of corporations he will regulate if confirmed to lead EPA,” the letter said. “Public reporting based on documents produced by Freedom of Information Act requests illustrate how Mr. Pruitt and members of his staff have worked closely with fossil fuel lobbyists to craft his office’s official positions.”

Pruitt was further grilled on his fossil fuel ties at his confirmation hearing on January 18.81Ben Jervey and Steve Horn. “EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt Gets Grilled on Fossil Fuel Ties at Confirmation Hearing,” DeSmog, January 18, 2017.

Some notable signatories of the Cornwall Alliance letter, as of January 5, 2017, included:

June 10, 2016

Anthony Watts was a signatory to a Cornwall Alliance open letter written by Calvin Beisner and addressed to U.S. attorneys general about climate change.82E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

The letter responds to recent investigations by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and members of Attorneys General United for Clean Power into what ExxonMobil knew about climate change and when, started by a coalition of attorneys general in the US.83David Hasemyer. “Climate Fraud Investigation of Exxon Draws Attention of 17 Attorneys General,” InsideClimate News, March 30, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/D2tlr 84Ben Jervey. “State Investigations Into What Exxon Knew Double, and Exxon Gets Defensive,” Desmog, April 1, 2016.

Calvin Beisner writes that the attorneys generals’ actions are “a dead giveaway that you’re ignorant about climate science and related climate and energy policy.”85E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

“[U]nlike in the case of tobacco’s health risks, there are innumerable and enormous holes in the case (not for human contribution to global warming but) for manmade global warming dangerous enough to justify spending trillions of dollars reinventing the world’s energy system to mitigate it, particularly when competing use of those trillions might bring far greater benefit,” Beisner addresses the attorneys general. And you, intelligent and learned all, are ignorant of those enormous holes.”86E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

The Cornwall Alliance lists the following signatories to its open letter:87E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

June 2016

Reacting to recent research finding that Americans were more likely to follow advice on cutting fossil fuel energy use from climate scientists who had also taken personal steps to decarbonize, Anthony Watts carried out what he described as an “ariel survey” of climate scientists’ homes.88Shahzeen Z. Attari, David H. Krantz, Elke U. Weber. “Statements about climate researchers’ carbon footprints affect their credibility and the impact of their advice,” Climate Change, June 16, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CZOkK 89Graham Readfearn. “Denialist Blogger Anthony Watts Posts Error Strewn ‘Aerial Survey’ of Climate Scientists’ Homes,” DeSmog, June 19, 2016.

DeSmog checked with several of the scientists featured in the Watts Up With That blog post. Some of their responses are recorded below:90Anthony Watts. “Study: ‘Climate scientists are more credible when they practice what they preach’ – but my aerial surveys show many don’t,” Watts Up With That? June 16, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/POtxq

Dr Overpeck, of the University of Arizona, whose home, according to Watts, “seems completely devoid of solar power.” Overpeck told DeSmog:

“Watts is using an old image of our house perhaps? We have a good-sized array deployed on our roof. Yesterday we generated 59 kWh, which more than covered our own energy use, including air-conditioning on a hot day, and thus we fed the excess back into the utility grid.”91Anthony Watts. “Study: ‘Climate scientists are more credible when they practice what they preach’ – but my aerial surveys show many don’t,” Watts Up With That? June 16, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/POtxq

Dr Trenberth, of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, whose Colorado home was also without solar panels, according to Watts’ “aerial survey” sent DeSmog pictures of his home to show panels on his roof (he later emailed Watts). He told DeSmog:

“I have had solar since 1986: firstly as hot water heating, and then when we moved to our current address in 2004, we installed pv panels.”92Anthony Watts. “Study: ‘Climate scientists are more credible when they practice what they preach’ – but my aerial surveys show many don’t,” Watts Up With That? June 16, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/POtxq

Professor Michal Mann’s home, while without solar panels on his home, still purchases all of his power from renewable energy sources. Mann told DeSmog:

“Anthony Watts has shown himself to be a sad, creepy, desperate man, who has nothing better to with his life than this. He apparently doesn’t understand the whole exercise was irrelevant from the start, since — as I have pointed out many times in the past — we have a plan in which all of our power comes from wind energy. As one Twitter commenter noted, we’ll probably finding him reduced to searching through people’s trash soon enough. The episode does nothing other than to demonstrate both the man’s lack of integrity and dullness of mind.”93Anthony Watts. “Study: ‘Climate scientists are more credible when they practice what they preach’ – but my aerial surveys show many don’t,” Watts Up With That? June 16, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/POtxq

Whilke Watts claimed to have been careful to avoid revealing the addresses of any of the scientists featured, earlier versions of his post and at least one image shared in social media did show street names. UK Journalist Mark Lynas was angered by this, and described Watts’s actions as “disgusting”:

May 2, 2016

Anthony Watts was listed among “Key Scientists” appearing in Marc Morano‘s movie, Climate Hustle. The full list included the following:94“Background on Key Scientists Appearing in Climate Hustle” (PDF), ClimateHustle.org. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog.

Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle was released in U.S. theatres on May 2, 2016. Bill Nye described it as “not in our national interest and the world’s interest.”95‘Climate Hustle’ debuts as skeptics take on global-warming ‘consensus’,” The Washington Times, May 1, 2016. Archived August 26, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/XtLXp

The film was produced by the Committee for Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) and CDR Communications. As noted at Desmog’s project, ClimateHustler.org, CFACT has received funding from ExxonMobil, Chevron, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars from foundations associated with Richard Mellon Scaife. CFACT has also received at least $7.8 million in “dark money” through DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund.96Background on Climate Hustle Host and Producers,” ClimateHustle.org. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. 97Homepage, Climatehustler.org. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NB9qn

CDR Communications was behind the 2010 video by the Cornwall Alliance titled Resisting the Green Dragon, which claimed environmentalism was a “false religion” and a “global government” power grab. Chris Rogers of CDR Communications is also chairman of The James Partnership, the umbrella arm that includes the Cornwall Alliance as one of its projects and pays the salary of Calvin Beisner, Cornwall’s founder and spokesperson.98Graham Readfearn. “The Evangelical Christian Climate Deniers Behind Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Documentary,” Desmog, November 19, 2015.

Climate Hustle initially premiered on December 7, 2015 in Paris, France during the COP21 United Nations summit on climate change.99Matthew Kasper, “Climate Hustle, Latest Global Warming Denial Documentary, Set For World Premiere In Paris During COP21,” Republic Report, November 13, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/s7OHs 100Climate Hustle,” SourceWatch, accessed November 14, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/bOG35

“We are putting together what I think is the most comprehensive, unique, entertaining and humorous climate documentary that has ever been done or attempted,” Morano had said before the film was released.101Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” Desmog, November 12, 2015.

“The reason that this is a unique film,” Morano has said, “is that we are going for a pop culture-friendly… sarcastic approach and we actually give both sides in this movie.”

In an interview with Ezra Levant, Morano said:

“I am not interviewing a lot of the main climate sceptical scientists because I feel like they have been interviewed by many other people and their stories have been told. I am trying to find another layer of scientist whose stories have not been out there yet. You will see a lot of new names in this.”102Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” Desmog, November 12, 2015.

See a preview of the film below:

At the Paris premier of the film, reporters from Desmog and the Irish Times were denied entrance after having their RSVPs accepted days earlier.103Graham Readfearn. “The Fakery of the Paris ‘Red Carpet’ Premiere of Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film,” Desmog, December 30, 2015.

December 2015

Anthony Watts co-published a study with Evan Jones, John Nielson-Gammon, and John R. Christy on temperature stations. James Delingpole at Breitbart news claimed that Watts’s study “shows that at least half of the ‘global warming’ in the US since 1979 has been fabricated by NOAA.”104“Comparison of Temperature Trends Using an Unperturbed Subset of The U.S. Historical Climatology Network” (PDF), WUWT, December 2015. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. 105Study: NOAA Overestimated US Warming by 50%Breitbart, December 21, 2015. Archived September 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Vco9i

November 13, 2015

After the terror attacks in Paris, Anthony Watts publicly tweeted a suggestion that maybe Obama should “rethink his priority on climate change being the biggest threat to the planet”:

Watts linked the tweet to a post on his blog Watts up With That where he also added a poll asking “In wake of terror attacks today, should the COP21 Paris Climate Conference be canceled?”106Eric Worrall. “BREAKING News – Major Terrorist Atrocity in Paris, Just Weeks until COP21,” Watts Up With That, November 13, 2015. Archived November 17, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NI9v2

June 11–12, 2015

Anthony Watts was a speaker on Panel 2: “Climate Science and Accurate Data,” at the Heartland Institute’s Tenth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC10) in Washington, D.C., with Roy Spencer and J. Scott Armstrong.107Speakers,” Heartland Institute. Archived June 30, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/lpiqu

View Anthony Watts’ Panel 2 presentation at the Heartland Institute’s ICCC10, below:108Panel 2: Climate Science and Accurate Data with Anthony Watts, Roy Spencer, Ph.D., and J. Scott Armstrong, Ph.D.,” Heartland Institute, June 11, 2015. Archived July 14, 2015.

March 2015

Anthony Watts is one of several climate change skeptics cc’d on an email from S. Fred Singer in hopes of countering the documentary film “Merchants of Doubt,” which exposes the network of climate change skeptics and deniers hoping to delay legislative action on climate change.109Katherine Bagley. “Leaked Email Reveals Who’s Who List of Climate Denialists,” InsideClimate News. March 12, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CVOi5

The October, 2014 email was leaked to journalists a few months before the documentary was released. “Can I sue for damages?” Singer asked in the email. “Can we get an injunction against the documentary?”

InsideClimate News reports in their article “Leaked Email Reveals Who’s Who List of Climate Denialists,” how “Many of those copied on the email thread, such as Singer and communications specialist Steven Milloy, have financial ties to the tobacco, chemical, and oil and gas industries and have worked to defend them since the 1990s.”110Katherine Bagley. “Leaked Email Reveals Who’s Who List of Climate Denialists,” InsideClimate News. March 12, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CVOi5

InsideClimate News also documented all those who were cc’d on the email, including the following skeptics and groups:

DeSmog covered the emails here: “Merchants of Doubt Film Debuts, Textbook Denial Attack Campaign Led By Fred Singer Ensues” and DeSmog also archived a full copy of the Singer email thread (PDF).

December 2014

Anthony Watts is a contributor to the book Climate Change: The Facts published by the Institute of Public Affairs and featuring “22 essays on the science, politics and economics of the climate change debate.”111About,” thefacts2014.ipa.org.au. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/PJmiL

The Institute of Public Affairs, while not revealing most of its funders, is known to have received funding from mining magnate Gina Rinehart and at least one major tobacco company. The book includes essays and articles from a range of climate change skeptics, with contributors including the following:112Institute of Public Affairs,” SourceWatch. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WWdgR 113Clive Hamilton. “The shadowy world of IPA finances,” ABC News, February 23, 2012. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xaFQT

According to Editor Alan Moran in a post at Catallaxy Files blog, Anthony Watts’s contribution is to illustrate “the trivial level of temperature rise that has occurred over the past century (with no increase in the past eighteen years). He notes the change in language by alarmists from ‘warming’ to ‘climate change’ in an attempt to substitute extreme climate events for the now non-existent warming trend. His examination of these extreme events— snow, storms, rainfall—shows an absence of evidence to indicate marked change over recent decades.”114Climate Change: the facts 2014,” Catallaxy Files (blog), December 16, 2014. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/yPmOE

The IPA also announced that Ian Plimer would be a contributor to their upcoming “Climate Change: The Facts 2017.”115Donate to Climate Change: The Facts 2017,” Institute of Public Affairs. Archived October 31, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/KpLZh

July 8, 2014

Anthony Watts was a speaker at the Heartland Institute’s Ninth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC9) in Las Vegas, Nevada.116Return of Climate Denial-a-Palooza: Heartland Institute Hitches Anti-Science Wagon to Vegas FreedomFest,” DeSmog, July 7, 2014. Archived July 14, 2014. Watts spoke on “Panel 3,” and his talk was titled “Digging deep – beyond sciecne by press release”:117Anthony Watts, ICCC9 (Panel 3),” International Conferences on Climate Change. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/mL2pK

DeSmog has done in-depth research on the other speakers and sponsors from Heartland’s ICCC9.118Brendan DeMelle. “Return of Climate Denial-a-Palooza: Heartland Institute Hitches Anti-Science Wagon to Vegas FreedomFest,” Desmog, July 7, 2014.

June 9, 2014

Anthony Watts registered the domain, theoas.org, and subsequently announced on September 16, 2014 the launch of a new organization, The Open Atmospheric Society, which Watts said “takes a new approach to atmospheric science, becoming the first international society of its kind to be a cloud-based online organization.”119“Overview for theoas.org” (PDF), Who.is. PDF archived at Desmog. 120theoas.org,” WhoIs. Accessed September 22, 2016. 121Anthony Watts. “A new professional society for meteorology and climatology is announced,” WUWT, September 16, 2014. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/smOcj 122Greg Laden. “Anthony Watts Starts Up Cloud Based Anti-Science Organization,” ScienceBlogs, September 17, 2014. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Lrrs9

According to Watts’ announcement of the OAS: “The purpose of The OAS is to provide a paperless and entirely online professional organization that will represent individuals who have been unrepresented by existing professional organizations that have become more activist than science based in their outlook. It also aims to provide a professional peer reviewed publication platform to produce an online journal with a unique and important requirement placed up-front for any paper submitted; it must be replicable, with all data, software, formulas, and methods submitted with the paper. Without those elements, the paper will be rejected. This focus on replicability up front is not found in other similar organizations that publish scientific results.”123Anthony Watts. “A new professional society for meteorology and climatology is announced,” WUWT, September 16, 2014. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/smOcj

June 6, 2014

Anthony Watts cross-posts a piece on his blog, Watts Up With That, written by Christopher Monckton for the Heartland Institute entitled, “End of an error,” regarding The Ninth International Heartland Conference on Climate Change in “the City of American Culture,” Las Vegas, from July 7-9.124Christopher Monckton, “End of an error,” Watts Up With That, June 6, 2014. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/NdHrx

December 2012

WUWT covered a “Leak” of the Independent Panel on Climate Change’s AR5 report. Blogger Alec Rawls claims that the leak, for which he was the originator, contains a “game-changing admission of enhanced solar forcing,” while Anthony Watts called it a “bombshell.” Alec Rawls is a blogger with no scientific experience who had volunteered to review the report.125Early Drafts of Next Climate Report Leaked Online,” Scientific American, December 14, 2012. Archived January 25, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/aHteo 126IPCC AR5 draft leaked, contains game-changing admission of enhanced solar forcing – as well as a lack of warming to match model projections, and reversal on ‘extreme weather’,” Watts Up With That, December 13, 2012. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/O4xA5 127The real IPCC AR5 draft bombshell – plus a poll,” Watts Up With That, December 14, 2012. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/DsI2A

IPCC author Dr. Richard Klein of the Stockholm Environment Institute commented that “It beggars belief to see how people, apparently without relevant knowledge, could make up such nonsense and get the blogosphere buzzing.”128Climate scientists dismiss IPCC ‘leak’ linking warming to cosmic rays,” RTCC, December 17, 2012. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Boirg

Media Matters also investigated, and talked to Dr. John Abraham of the Climate Science Rapid Response Team who said even if cosmic rays did have an effect on global temperatures that “they would currently be having a cooling effect.”129Scientists Debunk Conservative Media’s Spin On Leaked UN Climate Report,” MediaMatters, December 21, 2012. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/eSW3Z

July 2012

Anthony Watts released a pre-publication paper titled An area and distance weighted analysis of the impacts of station exposure on the U.S. Historical Climatology Network temperatures and temperature trends which disputes previous findings that the position of surface stations had no effect on temperature readings with regards to global warming. According to Watts, “The new rating method employed finds that station siting does indeed have a significant effect on temperature trends.”

The press release, published at the Watts Up With That blog suggests that the study demonstrates that “half of the global warming in the USA is artificial” and that “U.S. Temperature trends show a spurious doubling due to NOAA station siting problems and post measurement adjustments.”130New study shows half of the global warming in the USA is artificial,” WattsUpWithThat, July 29, 2012. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/drCs0

This is a variation on the argument originally proposed by Anthony Watts after his implementation of the “Surface Stations” project, but which has been since refuted. Skeptical Science reviewed the paper and found that overall “the conclusion is not supported by the analysis of the paper itself.”131Watts’ New Paper – An analysis and Critique,” SkepticalScience, August 2, 2012. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kdT8g

May 21–23, 2012

Anthony Watts was a speaker at the Heartland Institute‘s 7th International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC7):132All Climate Conference Speakers,” International Conference on Climate Change. Archived February 19, 2012. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/JDKoU 133Anthony Watts, ICCC7,” International Conferences on Climate Change. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hot5y

DeSmog researched the co-sponsors behind Heartland’s ICCC7 and found that they had collectively received over $67 million from ExxonMobil, the Koch Brothers and the conservative Scaife family foundations.134Brendan DeMelle. “Heartland Denial-a-Palooza Sponsors Have Received Million From ExxonMobil, Koch and Scaife Foundations,Desmog, May 22, 2012.

June 30-July 1, 2011

Anthony Watts was a keynote speaker at the Heartland Institute’s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC6).135Anthony Watts,” International Conference on Climate Change (climateconference.heartland.org). Accessed September 22, 2016.

Watts’s speech was titled “Assessing the Scientific Data”:136Anthony Watts, ICCC6,” International Conferences on Climate Change. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/HV9MX

March 2011

Anthony Watts praised the Berkeley Earth project, which was chaired by Richard Muller and set out to “resolve current criticism of the former temperature analyses, and to prepare an open record that will allow rapid response to further criticism or suggestions.” The study also evaluated Watt’s concerns about weather station locations.

Watts had declared he was “prepared to accept whatever result they produce, even if it proves my premise wrong.” Muller testified before congress on March 31, 2011 where he released preliminary results showing “a global warming trend that is very similar to that previously reported by the other groups [NOAA, NASA, and the Hadley Center Climate Research Unit (CRU)s].”137Paul Krugman. “The Truth, Still Inconvenient,” New York Times, April 3, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/mUGim 138Resources,” Berkeley Earth Project. Archived January 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/UKOZD 139Richard Muller. “Statement to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the United States House of Representatives” (PDF), Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Project, March 31, 2011. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Muller addressed Watts’s concerns, mentioning how “Many US stations have low quality rankings according to a study led by Anthony Watts. However, we find that the warming seen in the ‘poor’ stations is virtually indistinguishable from that seen in the ‘good’ stations.”140Richard Muller. “Statement to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the United States House of Representatives” (PDF), Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Project, March 31, 2011. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Instead of accepting the results as he promised, Watts dismissed the hearing as “post normal science political theater.” And one of the regular contributors on his site dismissed Professor Muller as “a man driven by a very serious agenda.”141Paul Krugman. “The Truth, Still Inconvenient,” New York Times, April 3, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/mUGim

2011

According to documents from the Heartland Institute, the think tank paid Watts $88,000 for his efforts on the “Weather Stations” project in 2011, with additional funding promised for 2012.142Brendan DeMelle. “Heartland Institute Exposed: Internal Documents Unmask Heart of Climate Denial Machine,” Desmog, February 14, 2012.

The project would take data from the National Aeronautics and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and convert them “into easy-to-understand graphs that can be easily understood by weathermen and the general interested public.”143Brendan DeMelle. “Heartland Institute Exposed: Internal Documents Unmask Heart of Climate Denial Machine,” Desmog, February 14, 2012.

June 2010

Anthony Watts flew to Australia for a round-the-country speaking tour organised by members of the minor political party, No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics (now renamed the Freedom and Prosperity party).144No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics,” Australian Electoral Commission. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/RWBFt

Watts spoke alongside climate science denier David Archibald, whom Watts thanked for helping to organise the schedule.145Anthony Watts. “A note of sincere thanks,” WUWT, July 3, 2010. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/A5MdE 146Anthony Watts Tour of Australia,” JoNova. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xE37d

March 2010

Anthony Watts spoke at the Heartland Institute’s Fourth International Conference on Climate Change. His speech was titled “Preliminary Results of the Surface Stations Project: Does the Station Siting Matter?147“4th International Conference on Climate Change” (PDF), The Heartland Institute. Retrieved February 23, 2012, from Lawrence Gould’s website on the University of Hartford web server. 148Anthony Watts, ICCC4,” International Conferences on Climate Change. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/iQAu8

October 2010

In October 2010 the Christian Science Monitor published an Op-Ed by Watts likening climate contrarian Hal Lewis’s resignation from the American Physical Society to the excommunication of Martin Luther.149Anthony Watts. “Climate change ‘fraud’ letter: a Martin Luther moment in science history,” Christian Science Monitor, October 19, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/wiDoB

The American Physical Society strongly disagreed, saying “In light of the significant settled aspects of the science, APS totally rejects Dr. Lewis’ claim that global warming is a ‘scam’ and a ‘pseudoscientific fraud.’”150APS Comments on Harold Lewis’ Resignation of his Society Membership” (Press Release), American Physical Society, October 12, 2010. Archived March 24, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8B9c0

November 2009

Watts Up With That was one of the first blogs to receive the link to a set of illegally obtained files from the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (CRU). These files would later be viewed as ‘Climategate’ or ‘Switfthack,’ after a group of climate change skeptics including Steven Mosher, Steve McIntyre, Ross McKitrick, Patrick Condon, Lucia Liljegren, Charles Rotter and Anthony Watts had gone through the stolen material and released information that they purported to suggest a controversy among climate scientists.151Morgan Goodwin. “Climategate: An Autopsy,” Desmog, March 30, 2010.

The individual who obtained the e-mails hacked onto RealClimate.org, a site maintained by climate scientists Gavin Schmidt, Michael Mann and others, and then proceeded to upload the file “FOIA.zip.” RealClimate’s Gavin Schmidt summarized the events, describing how the hacker created a draft post that was never actually posted on the RealClimate website. The hacker then commented on ClimateAudit.org, listing his name as “RC” at 10:54 GMT on November 17 along with the comment “A miracle just happened.” 152The CRU hack: Context,” November 23, 2009. See Comment 156 by user gavin, November 23, 2009 at 4:00 PM (Permalink Comment #143886). Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/GwvWb 153Miracles and Strip Bark Standardization,” Climate Audit, November 16, 2009. Archived December 21, 2009. See comment #28 (permalink 201848), November 17 2009 at 5:42 AM from user “RC.” Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/i12up

Approximately 12 hours later, a comment that linked to the same file (this time located on a Russian FTP server) was posted at WattsUpWithThat.com. Charles Rotter, also known as Charles the Moderator or CTM did not initially approve the comment, but notified Anthony Watts. The hacker proceeded to comment on other, lesser-known climate change skeptic blogs including the Air Vent (run by Patrick Condon), as well as on a blog titled Climate Skeptic.154Jeff Id. “Open Letter On Climate Legislation,” the Air Vent, November 19, 2009. Archived September 22, 2016. See comment #10, November 17, 2009 at 9:57 PM by user FOIA (Permalink comment 11917). Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8H8H0 155BUMMER. I DIDN’T MAKE THE LIST,” Climate Skeptic, November 11, 2009. See comment 603982351 by user “FOIA.” Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/0405H

Charles Rotter, volunteer moderator at WUWT made a CD copy of the file and forwarded it to Steve Mosher at around 9:36 pm PST on November 17, while Watts was traveling in Europe at the time and said that he didn’t look at the file. At this time, Mosher began analyzing the emails for their validity and discussed them with Steve McIntyre. On the 19th, Mosher posted a comment on Lucia Liljegren’s blog, as well as one on Climate Audit (Steve McIntyre’s blog). Within the same hour, Rotter of WUWT made a comment on the Bishop Hill blog with the username “devilinthedetails.” Liljegren saw the comment and created a new post, saying that “Steve Mosher alerted us to an interesting development.” Mosher also e-mailed Tom Fuller, a blogger at Examiner.com and messaged Andy Revkin at the New York Times via Facebook.156Climategate—The CTM story,” Watts Up With That, January 13, 2010. Archived September 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/sKhhm 157GISS October Anomaly: Same as September,” The Blackboard, November 13, 2009. See Comment #23722 by steven mosher, November 19, 2009 at 1:55 PM. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. 158Caspar and the Jesus paper,” Bishop Hill, August 11, 2008. Archived September 23, 2016. See Comment by user devilinthedetails, Novemeber 19, 2009 at 8:46 PM. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qMWOD 159Real files or fake?The Blackboard, November 19, 2009. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog.

An hour after the first comments by Steve Mosher and Charles Rotter, and the hacker made a new comment at WUWT asking why the story hadn’t gotten widespread attention. Rotter, in his role as moderator, replied to the comment with the following message:

“A lot is happening behind the scenes. It is not being ignored. Much is being coordinated among major players and the media. Thank you very much. You will notice the beginnings of activity on other sites now. Here soon to follow. ~ ctm

Mosher later posted four of the emails on Liljegren’s site. One of these new e-mails contained the now well-known “hide the decline” phrase that would soon become the primary message repeated by the conservative media. Anthony Watts posted on the story from the Dulles airport on his way back from Europe.160Real files or fake?The Blackboard, November 19, 2009. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. 161Anthony Watts. “Breaking News Story: CRU has apparently been hacked – hundreds of files released,” WUWT, November 19, 2009. Archived September 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qLblx

According to Watts:

“I’ve seen the file, it appears to be genuine and from CRU. Others who have seen it concur- it appears genuine. There are so many files it appears unlikely that it is a hoax. The effort would be too great.”

It wasn’t long before the story spread to a wide range of other skeptic blogs and news sources.

July 2009

When Peter Sinclair posted a “Climate Crock of the Week” video featuring Anthony Watts, Watts complained under YouTube’s copyright infringement guidelines to have the video taken down. The video debunks Watts’ work discrediting the U.S. Temperature record.162Kevin Grandia. “Climate Crock Anthony Watts Scrubs YouTube Video,” Desmog, July 27, 2009. 163Joe Romm. “The video that Anthony Watts does not want you to see: The Climate Denial ‘Crock of the Week‘,” Climate Progress, July 29, 2009. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xcOBF

You can download a copy of Sinclair’s Climate Crock: What’s Up With Watts here.

Watts responded to the video on his blog, describing it as “the worst job of fact-finding I had ever seen,” and how it reminded him of “really bad work from greenhorns out of reporters school.” He goes on to explain why he accused Sinclair of Copyright infringement, and additionally accuses the National Climactic Data Center (NCDC) of their their own copyright infringement for using his data that he explains was not yet in the public domain.164Anthony Watts. “On Climate, Comedy, Copyrights, and Cinematography,” WUWT, July 30, 2009. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Athrn

The video was later reviewed by a number of US copyright experts who found that it contained nothing that could be construed as anything but fair use.165Kevin Grandia. “Climate Crock of the Week: What’s Up with Anthony Watts [take 2],” Desmog, July 29, 2009.

Peter Sinclair also responded, stating that “In accordance with established YouTube guidelines I filed a ‘counternotice’, affirming, ‘under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of a mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled.’” The video was subsequently restored.166Peter Sinclair. “YouTube Reinstates banned Climate video,” Desmog, August 19, 2009.

June 2009

Anthony Watts spoke at the Heartland Institute’s Third International Conference on Climate change, representing SurfaceStations.org.167Speakers,” Heartland Institute Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/wnJav

His speech was titled “A Hands-On Study Of The Reliability Of The U.S. Temperature Record”:168Anthony Watts, ICCC3,” International Conferences on Climate Change. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/yCZta

March 8–10, 2009

Anthony Watts was a speaker at the Heartland Institute’s Second International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC2) in New York:169Anthony Watts, ICCC2,” International Conferences on Climate Change. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/I2bER

DeSmog researched the funding behind Heartland’s Second International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC2) and found sponsor organizations had received over $47 million in funding from energy companies and right-wing foundations, with 78% of that total coming from Scaife Family Foundations.170Heartland Institute’s 2009 Climate Conference in New York: funding history of the sponsors,” DeSmog.

March 2008

Anthony Watts spoke at the Heartland Institute’s first 2008 International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC1). His presentation was titled “A Hands-On Study of Station Siting and Data Quality Issues for the United States Historical Climatology Network.”171Watts-NYC-2008,” Surfacestations.org. Accessed January 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/lqOpG 172Anthony Watts, ICCC1,” International Conferences on Climate Change. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ssjOi

2007

Anthony Watts created Surfacestations.org in response to what Watts describes as “a massive failure of bureaucracy to perform something so simple as taking some photographs and making some measurements and notes of a few to a few dozen weather stations in each state.”173About,” Surfacestations.org. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/g0AW4

Surfacestations.org describes itself as a “grass roots organization” that uses volunteers to collect information on weather stations that are part of the United States Historical Climatological Network (USHCN) and Global Historical Climatological Network (GHCN).174About,” Surfacestations.org. Archived September 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/g0AW4

Watts believed that with information collected by the project he would be able to demonstrate that “some of the global warming increase is not from CO2 but from localized changes in the temperature-measurement environment.”175Bill Steigerwald. “Helping along global warming,” Pittsburg Tribune, June 17, 2007. Archived September 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/HII7T

The results were not as Watts expected. A NOAA analysis of the Surface Stations data showed “no indication from this analysis that poor station exposure has imparted a bias in the U.S. temperature trends.” Watts’ claims were also thoroughly debunked in a “Climate Crock of the Week” video.176“Talking Points related to concerns about whether the U.S. temperature record is reliable” (PDF), NOAA Climate Services, July 6, 2009. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. 177Kevin Grandia. “Debunking Another Climate Change Crock: What’s Up with Anthony Watts? ,” Huffington Post, July 25, 2009. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/4hfTv

August 2007

Registered Watts Up With That (WUWT), a blog which provides “News and commentary on puzzling things in life, nature, science, weather, climate change, technology, and recent news by Anthony Watts.”178WHOIS Results for wattsupwiththat.com,” DomainTools.com. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/yftCm

Watts is the editor and primary contributor to the blog, while other authors have included climate change skeptics such as Roger Pielke Senior and Pielke Jr.

There is a blog devoted to debunking Watts’s regular posts at WUWT. The blog, titled “Wott’s Up With That” is run by Canadian Geologist Ben Lawson.

Nov 1995

Anthony watts is listed as a signatory of the Leipzig Declaration which states that “there does not exist today a general scientific consensus about the importance of greenhouse warming from rising levels of carbon dioxide. In fact, most climate specialists now agree that actual observations from both weather satellites and balloon-borne radiosondes show no current warming whatsoever.”179SIGNATORIES TO THE LEIPZIG DECLARATION,” Science & Environmental Policy Project. Archived October 15, 2009. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/gg2ip

Affiliations

Social Media

Publications

Anthony Watts has published at least one article in a peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Geophysical Research, on the findings of the Surface Stations Project:

His most notable publication appears to have been published by the Heartland Institute and Watts’ own SurfaceStations.org:

The report suggests that certain climate-monitoring stations may yield inaccurate data due to their proximity to buildings, air conditioners or concrete. Watts suggests that due to the improper placement of some of these stations, climate models based on this data may also be flawed.

Other Resources

Resources

Related Profiles

APCO Worldwide Background APCO has been described as “one of the world's most powerful PR firms.”“Public Relations Firms Database: APCO Worldwide,” O'Dwyers. Archive.is URL: https://arc...
Hugh W. Ellsaesser Credentials Ph.D., Meteorology.“Re: Global warming: It's happening,” Letter to NaturalSCIENCE, January 29, 1998. Archived July 28, 2011. Archive.fo URL: https://arch...
Alfred (Al) Pekarek Credentials Ph.D., University of Wyoming (1974).“Faculty/Staff,” St. Cloud State University. Archived May 28, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dA53K ...
Benny Josef Peiser Credentials Ph.D. , University of Frankfurt (1993). Peiser studied political science, English, and sports science. “Benny Peiser,” Wikipedia (German)Entry. Peiser, ...