Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)

Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)

Background

The Washington-DC-based Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1985 by David Rothbard and Craig Rucker to pursue a free-market approach to environmental issues. CFACT describes their mission as “relentlessly infusing the environmental debate with a balanced perspective on environmental stewardship.”1About,” CFACT. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/GN41Q

According to their website, “Its co-founders, David Rothbard and Craig Rucker, believed very strongly that the power of the market combined with the applications of safe technologies could offer humanity practical solutions to many of the world’s pressing concerns.”2About,” CFACT. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/GN41Q

In 1989, Craig Rucker and David Rothbard approached the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) requesting “corporate involvement and support.” According to CMA‘s documents, CFACT was established to “fight the Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) and Ralph Nader-type organizations.”3Chemical Manufacturers Association Minutes,” Chemical Industry Archives, March 16, 1989. Archived March 14, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

SourceWatch also describes CFACT as the conservative answer to U.S. Public Interest Research Groups such as NYPIRG, ConnPIRG, and other progressive organizations lobbying for environmental issues.4Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow,” SourceWatch. Archived September 21, 2015.

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow was highlighted in a paper by Yale University’s Dr. Justin Farrell. Farrell’s paper, “Corporate funding and ideological polarization about climate change,” was published in the Proceedings of the Naitonal Academy of Sciences in 2015.5Graham Readfearn. “Chart Shows Why ‘CO2 is Good’ For Climate Science Denial Groups Funded By Exxon and Kochs,” DeSmog, January 11, 2016. It includes a list of 164 organizations who are part of the “climate counter-movement,” as well as which of these groups have received funding from ExxonMobil or the Koch brothers (CFACT has received funding from both).6Justin Farrell. “Corporate funding and ideological polarization about climate change,” PNAS Vol. 113 no. 1 (January, 2016). View full text (PDF).

Note that while ExxonMobil has donated over $582,000 to CFACT over the years,ExxonSecrets Factsheet: CFACT – Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. Accessed May 1, 2017. the oil company reports that it no longer funds the organization.7Cindy Baxter. “ExxonMobil, Funder of Climate Change Deniers,” Huffington Post, December 14, 2015. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/5ag7S

ClimateDepot

In 2009, CFACT hired Marc Morano, a former spokesman for Sen. James Inhofe, to run ClimateDepot.com which describes itself as ”a special project of the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT).” According to Morano, the site was designed to offer research and environmental news that questions the theory of man-made global warming. Launched in the spring of 2009, Climate Depot claimed it would be “the Senate EPW website on steroids,” and “the most comprehensive information center on climate news and the related issues of environment and energy.”8Marc Morano. “Climate Depot Aims To Redefine Global Warming ReportingClimate Depot, April 6, 2009. Archived February 5, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hg7pa

In the press release, Morano denounced reporters who held the view of mainstream climate scientists, while promoting the “700 list” of Senator James Inhofe:9Marc Morano. “Climate Depot Aims To Redefine Global Warming ReportingClimate Depot, April 6, 2009. Archived February 5, 2010. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hg7pa

“Sadly, many of today’s mainstream climate reporters would be better suited writing newsletters for Al Gore than attempting to inform the public about the latest climate science developments,” Morano said.  “Senator Inhofe has courageously stood alone to face the onslaught of Gore, the UN, and media-driven climate fears. As one of the more than 700 international dissenting scientists noted recently, Senator Inhofe will be recognized as nothing short of Churchillian in his efforts to combat unfounded man-made global warming fears,” Morano added.

Inhofe’s report is not a scientific study, but rather a Minority Report from Inhofe’s staff. As reported at the Huffington Post, the Center for Inquiry (CFI) Office of Public Policy undertook an assessment of the 687 people listed as “dissenting scientists” in the January 2009 version of the ‘Inhofe list’ and concluded the following:10A. Siegel. “Scientific Inquiry Concludes: Inhofe List ‘Not Credible’,” Huffington Post, August 26, 2009. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/fC0fL

  • Slightly fewer than 10 percent could be identified as climate scientists.
  • Approximately 15 percent published in the recognizable refereed literature on subjects related to climate science.
  • Approximately 80 percent clearly had no refereed publication record on climate science at all.
  • Approximately 4 percent appeared to favor the current IPCC-2007 consensus and should not have been on the list.

EnergyDepot

CFACT launched the Energy Depot (www.EnergyDepot.US) project in April of 2014. According to CFACT, Energy Depot was launched in response to “President Obama’s unrelenting war on U.S. energy production”:11CFACT launches Energy Depot — EnergyDepot.US,” CFACT, April 4, 2014. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/MgeFC

“Unlike the past, we can go right around the President and the old-guard ‘mainstream’ media and share the facts directly with the American people,” the CFACT announcement reports. “Freedom needs energy – Not hapless wind turbines and solar panels, but proven, reliable, affordable energy.” 

Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT Campus)

According to their website, Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow is a “student run environmental group led by National Director Bill Gilles, Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow offers college students an opportunity to acquire knowledge, gain experience and get involved in making a difference on important environmental policy matters both on and off campus.”12CFACT Campus,” CFACT.org. Archived September 22, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/YtrJA

Collegians For a Constructive Tomorrow attempts to spread a “free-market based approach to environmentalism” that includes talking at university campuses to denounce wind power,13Justin Myhra. “CFACT Talks Wind at Iowa State,” cfactcampus.org, September 18, 2015. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/5UyB4 and to counteract ”The indoctrination of global warming alarmism at even our nation’s most prestigious universities14Adam Houser. “Georgia Tech Enters the Global Warming Fray,” cfactcampus.org, September 1, 2015. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/D1EUB with programs like their “Keep Calm Climate Changes” campaign.15Keep Calm-Climate Changes Campaign,” Cfactcampus.org. Accessed September 21, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Stance on Climate Change

October 2016

Some points from CFACT‘s “Climate Truth File 2016” (PDF):16“Climate Truth File 2016” (PDF), CFACT, October 4, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

  • “The scientific reality is that on virtually every claim — from A to Z — the promoters of manmade climate fears are falling short or going in the opposite direction.”
  • “Global temperatures have been virtually flat for about 18 years according to satellite data, and peer-reviewed literature is now scaling back predictions of future warming.”
  • “Sea level rise rates have been steady for over a century, with recent deceleration.”
  • “Droughts and floods are neither historically unusual nor caused by mankind, and there is no evidence we are currently having any unusual weather.
  • “Polar bears are doing fine, with their numbers way up since the 1960s.”

Additional quotes below:

“Carbon Dioxide – CO2 – is a harmless trace essential gas in the atmosphere that humans exhale from their mouth (after inhaling oxygen). […] Carbon dioxide fertilizes algae, trees, and crops to provide food for humans and animals. We inhale oxygen and exhale CO2. Slightly higher atmospheric CO2 levels cannot possibly supplant the numerous complex and inter-connected forces that have always determined Earth’s climate.”

“So-called ‘hottest year’ claims are just a fancy way of saying that the ‘global warming pause’ has essentially continued.”

“Arctic ice changes are not ‘proof’ of manmade global warming, nor are they unprecedented, unusual, or cause for alarm, according to experts and multiple peer-reviewed studies.”

“Sea levels have been rising since the last ice age ended more than 10,000 years ago. There is currently no acceleration in sea level rise. “

“ Dr. Mann was at the center of the Climategate scandal. His graph and the data and methodology behind it have been scrutinized and debunked in peer-reviewed studies by numerous climate scientists, statisticians, and other experts.”

“Many in the media repeatedly cite the various Climategate investigations as an ‘exoneration’ of the UN global warming scientists. But a closer look reveals that the investigations were nothing more than the global warming industry pretending to investigate itself, and of course finding no wrongdoing.”

“The reality is that politicians who say government ‘can do something about droughts, floods, sea levels, hurricanes, and tornadoes are practicing the equivalent of medieval witchcraft.”

2016

The following is from CFACT‘s website, on the section “Climate Change”:

“Earth’s climate changes frequently, sometimes beneficially, sometimes disastrously (as during repeated glacial periods and the Little Ice Age of 1350-1850), as a result of shifting and interacting solar, cosmic,  oceanic, atmospheric and other forces that we are only beginning to understand. While some continue to insist that human “greenhouse gas” emissions are causing potentially catastrophic changes in climate and weather, growing numbers of scientists say nature, not man, rules the climate and causes changes of varying extent and significance every few decades, centuries and millennia.

Humans, plants and wildlife have survived and even prospered during past climate changes – and will continue to do so. Indeed, our technology and wealth will make people and civilizations much better able to prepare for and adapt to most climate changes, although another Pleistocene-scale ice age would devastate northern cities, decimate agricultural production, and drive human and species migrations.

Computer models are helpful for improving our understanding of how weather and climate systems work and change over time. However, because they are based on poor data and false, questionable or simplistic premises, they are useless in forecasting future climate and weather. Moreover, actual temperature and weather data demonstrate that alarmist warnings of dangerous global warming are not supported by reality. Regulating carbon dioxide may be profitable for certain industries and governments, but will impose enormous costs on society – while having no effect on our weather and climate.

Today, the real danger is laws and policies implemented in a misplaced belief that humans can control or prevent climate change. These policies raise energy costs, kill jobs, impose especially heavy burdens on poor families, and make it hard for still impoverished nations to develop, provide affordable energy, create jobs, and improve lives and living standards. Moreover, even drastic reductions in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions will mean nothing globally, because China, India and other developing nations are now emitting far more CO2 than the United States could eliminate even by shutting down its economy.”17Climate Change,” CFACT. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/pdjDG

May 9, 2011

CFACT has listed carbon dioxide as a “benefit” in the past:

“Many climatologists and astrophysicists believe recent sun spot, Pacific Ocean and global temperature trends suggest that our planet may have entered a cool phase that could last for 25 years. If that is the case, the additional carbon dioxide being emitted by China, India and other developing countries could bring a major additional benefit: helping to protect wildlife habitats, enhance oceanic biota and preserve crop yields under sub-optimal climatic conditions.”18Carbon and carbon dioxide: Clearing up the confusion,” CFACT News, May 9, 2011. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ilTqO

Cooler Heads Coalition (CHC)

CFACT is also a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition, which describes its aim as “dispelling the myths of global warming through sound science and analysis.”19About GlobalWarming.org,” Globalwarming.org. Archived April 21, 2006. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/HBYzN

Funding

The following data is based on publicly available 990 tax records, and information from the Conservative Transparency project’s breakdown of CFACT‘s funding. Note that not all individual values have been verified by DeSmog.20Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed May 1, 2017. Data on file at DeSmog.

View the attached spreadsheet for additional details on The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow’s funding by year (.xlsx).21Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed May 1, 2017. Data on file at DeSmog.

See a comparison of top funders year over year below:

“No Fossil Fuel Money for over a Decade”?

On September 22, 2020, Paul Driessen, senior policy advisor for CFACT, wrote a promotional piece for CFACT‘s Climate Hustle 2 movie at Watts Up With That where he claimed “CFACT has received no fossil fuel money for over a decade, and got only small amounts before that.”22Paul Driessen. “Climate Hustle 2 premieres this Thursday,” Watts Up With That? September 22, 2020. Archived September 24, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/LFg9O

DeSmog’s research below suggests CFACT received funding from fossil fuel companies (Murray Energy) as recently as 10/05/2018. Between 2014 and 2016, CFACT also received grants from Charles Koch’s foundation and institute totaling $38,252. A large portion of the Kochs’ fortune has come from refining and producing fossil fuels.23Paul Driessen. “Climate Hustle 2 premieres this Thursday,” Watts Up With That? September 22, 2020. Archived September 24, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/LFg9O

Murray Energy Funding

Murray Energy bankruptcy filings in 2019 revealed CFACT was among groups who received funding from the energy company owned by climate change denier Robert Murray. The filings revealed a wide range of creditors with deep ties to climate change denial including the Heartland Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Government Accountability and OversightFreedomWorks, and the International Climate Science Coalition.24Lee Fang. “COAL GIANT PROVIDED SECRET FINANCING TO GROUP CHALLENGING CLIMATE LAWSUITS,”The Intercept, December 17, 2019. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/hUjRt Robert Murray was known for being a major Trump donor, and giving officials a wish list of proposed actions to help the coal industry. See related reporting from The InterceptEnergy and Environment News,25Scott Waldman. “Murray Energy a major funder of climate denial groups,” E&E News, December 17, 2019. Archived December 20, 2019. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/wip/WrDuT and The New York Times.26Lisa Friedman. “A Coal Baron Funded Climate Denial as His Company Spiraled Into Bankruptcy,” The New York Times, December 17, 2019. Archived December 20, 2019. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/ujTS6

Other groups funded by Murray Energy include FreedomWorks, the Cato Institute, and Judicial Watch. As The New York Times noted, Murray continued to fund climate change denial even as his company was going bankrupt.

According to the filing documents, Murray Energy gave CFACT a cash contribution of $5,000 on 10/05/2018.27Murray Energy Bankruptcy Filing Documents on file at DeSmog. Case 2:19-bk-56885, document page 328 of 370 (page 268 in PDF).

*ExxonMobil Funding

ExxonSecrets research found that CFACT has received $582,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.28ExxonSecrets Factsheet: CFACT – Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. Archived March 25, 2017.

Donors Trust (DT& Donors Capital Fund (DCF)

As reported above, CFACT received a total of $395,000 from Donors Capital Fund (DCFbetween 2005 and 2015, and a total of $7,855,387 from DonorsTrust (DT) between 2008 and 2017. Both DonorsTrust and DCF distribute millions of dollars to conservative and free enterprise groups while concealing the identity of the original donors. 

Koch Funding

According to research by Greenpeace, CFACT has received a grand total of $29,752 from Koch-related foundations since 2014. CFACT Campus has received an additional $16,097 since 2009.29Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine,” Greenpeace USAArchived March 14, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/au7P4

The following totals are based on DeSmog’s review of publicly available 990 forms:

 Donor
YearCharles G. Koch Charitable FoundationCharles Koch InstituteGrand Total
2014$5,376 $5,376
2015$13,876$10,500$24,376
2016$8,500 $8,500
Grand Total$27,752$10,500$38,252

According to publicly available 990s, the grants had the following purpose:

Charles Koch Foundation

  • 2016 — “Educational Programs” — $8,500
  • 2015 — “Educational Programs” — $13,876
  • 2014 — “Educational Grant” — $5,376

Charles Koch Institute

  • 2015 — “Education” — $10,500

990 Forms

Key People

CFACT Staff

Name201130CFACT Board of Advisors,” Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. Archived November 5, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/rCq6O
201531CFACT Staff,” CFACT. Archived July 15, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vrweK
201632CFACT Staff,” Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. Archived July 10, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/wQ95w
Description
Bill GillesY  Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) Director
Christina Wilson Norman YYDevelopment Officer
Craig RuckerYYYExecutive Director, Co-Founder
David RothbardYYYPresident, Co-Founder
Duggan FlanakinYYYDirector of Policy Research
Holger J. ThussY  CFACT Europe Director
Marc Morano YYDirector of Communications
Paul DriessenYYYSenior Policy Advisor
Ryan NicholsY  Director of Development

CFACT Board of Advisors

Name201133CFACT Staff” CFACT, July 8, 2009. Archived December 27, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/j6IUK
201534CFACT Board of Advisors,” CFACT. Archived July 15, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kprY6
2016
Description
A. Alan MoghissiYYYPresident, Institute for Regulatory Science
Alex Avery YYDirector of Research and Education, Center for Global Food Issues, Hudson Institute
Ben BolchYYYEmeritus Professor of Economics, Rhodes College
Bernard CohenY  Professor, Department of Physics, University of Pittsburgh
Bruce AmesY  Professor, University of California at Berkeley
Bryan Leyland YYElectrical and mechanical engineer, International Climate Science Coalition
Craig T. Idso YYChairman, Board of Directors, Center for the Study of CO2 and Global Change
Cyril Boynes Jr. YYDirector of International Affairs, Congress of Racial Equality (Uganda)
David Evans YYPrincipal, Science Speaks (Australia)
David MaillieY  Professor Emeritus of Biophysics, University of Rochester
Dennis T. Avery YYDirector, Center for Global Food Issues, Hudson Institute
Donald WaiteYYYEmeritus Professor of Family Medicine, Michigan State University
E. Calvin BeisnerYYYNational Spokesman, Cornwall Alliance for Environmental Stewardship
Elizabeth. WhelanY   
Frederick SeitzY  President Emeritus, Rockefeller University
Gerald R. KleinfeldY  Consortium for Atlantic Studies, Arizona State University
Gerd-Rainer WeberYYYEnergy and environmental policy expert (Germany)
Gilbert BrownY  Professor, University of Massachusetts at Lowell
H. Sterling BurnettYYYManaging Editor, Environment & Climate News, Heartland Institute
Hardy BouillonYYYProfessor of Philosophy, University of Trier (Germany)
Harry PriemYYYEmeritus Professor of Isotope and Planetary Geology, Utrecht University (Netherlands)
Howard HaydenYYYEmeritus Professor of Physics, University of Connecticut
Hugh EllsaesserYYYMeteorologist (retired), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Indur GoklanyY  Independent Scholar and Author
Jacqueline KasunY  Professor Emeritus of Economics, Humboldt State University, California
James BovardYYYAuthor and Lecturer
James H. SteeleY   
James M. Beers YYWildlife biologist, IWMC World Conservation Trust
Jay RichardsYYYSenior Fellow, Discovery Institute
Jefferson Edgens YYProfessor of Political Science, Director of EGSC, East Georgia State College – Augusta
Jim BeersY  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired).
Jo KwongYYYDirector of Economic Opportunity Programs, Philanthropy Roundtable
John MeredithYYYFounder, Meredith Advocacy Group. Member, Agenda 21
Joseph D. DeLucaYYYAssociate Director, Keck Biotechnology Genomics Services, Yale University School of Medicine
Kate Xiao ZhouYYYAssociate Professor of Political Science, University of Hawaii
Kelvin KemmYYYNuclear engineer, CEO, Nuclear Africa, South Africa
Leon LouwYYYExecutive Director, Free Market Foundation of South Africa
Lord Christopher Monckton YYChief Policy Advisor, International Climate Science Coalition
Manfred KrogerY  Professor Emeritus of Food Science, Pennsylvania State University
Michael FumentoY  Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Michael SaneraYYYDirector of Research and Local Government Studies, John Locke Foundation
Nick NicholsYYYPrincipal, CounterPoint Strategies, Inc.
Patrick J. MichaelsYYYSenior Fellow, Cato Institute
Pauline MwinziYYYPrincipal Scientist, Kenya Medical Research Institute
Peter HolleYYYFounding President, Frontier Centre for Public Policy (Canada)
Richard S. CourtneyYYYIndependent energy consultant (U.K.)
Robert A. SiricoYYYPresident, Acton Institute
Robert C. Balling Jr.YYYProfessor, Dept. of Geographical Sciences, Arizona State University
Robert M. Carter YYMarine Geophysical Laboratory, James Cook University (Australia)
Robert NovakYYYProfessor, Dept. of Global Health, University of South Florida
Roger BateYYYDirector, Africa Fighting Malaria
Roger Helmer YYMember of the European Parliament for the East Midlands
Roger MeinersYYYProfessor of Economics and Law, University of Texas at Arlington
Ruthann SwansonY   
Sallie BaliunasYYYAstrophysicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophyics
Sherwood B. IdsoYYYPresident, Center for the Study of CO2 and Global Change
Shmuel (Sam) VakninYYYEditor in Chief, Global Politician (Macedonia)
Steven F. HaywardYYYRonald Reagan Distinguished Visiting Professor, Pepperdine University
Syrulwa SomahYYYExecutive Director, Lihede, Inc. Associate Professor, North Carolina A & T University
Terrence Flower YYEmeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy, St. Catherine’s University
Thomas DiLorenzoYYYDepartment of Economics, Loyola College of Maryland
Tung-Ching LeeYYYDepartment of Food Sciences, Rutgers University
Vincent Gray YYFounder, New Zealand Climate Science Coalition
Wendell Cox YYTransportation consultant. Principal, Demographia
William Gray YYEmeritus Professor of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University
William H. III LashY  Professor of Law, George Mason University
Willie Soon YYAstrophysicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Actions

November 13, 2023

The Heartland Institute and CFACT announced their intention to sue the federal government over its approval of Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project. According to The Heartland Institute and CFACT, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s approval of the project was based on a “defective” biological opinion that, they claimed, “ignores the ‘best scientific information available’ about the endangered population of the North Atlantic right whale.”35Tim Ferry. “‘Send a message’ | Climate change deniers to sue US over largest offshore wind array approval,Recharge, November 14, 2023. Archived February 29, 2024.

February 24, 2023

CFACT introduced a “new coalition of energy, national security and public policy groups” that called itself as the Net Zero Reality Coalition.36(Press Release). “New coalition urges Congress to investigate risks of net-zero energy actions,” CFACT, February 24, 2023. Archived October 2, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/YJQEg

CFACT’s Paul Driessen was listed as the group’s coordinator while members included CFACT, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Heartland Institute, E&E Legal, and the International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC) and “and other public policy organizations that have long sought responsible, science-focused, reality-based laws and policies.”37(Press Release). “New coalition urges Congress to investigate risks of net-zero energy actions,” CFACT, February 24, 2023. Archived October 2, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/YJQEg

“America cannot afford to abandon its reliable, affordable, multifaceted energy system, and try to replace it with a wind, solar and battery system that exists only in government proclamations and legislative mandates,” Driessen said in CFACT’s press release.38(Press Release). “New coalition urges Congress to investigate risks of net-zero energy actions,” CFACT, February 24, 2023. Archived October 2, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/YJQEg

September 27, 2022

CFACT and the Heartland Institute announced a joint legal effort with an anti-wind front group created by the Cesar Rodney Institute, the American Coalition for Ocean Protection, to oppose the Coastal Virginia Offshore Energy Project. The group alleged the wind project threatens the endangered North Atlantic right whale.39(Press Release). “Public Interest Groups Hire Counsel to Protect Endangered Right Whale from Offshore Virginia Wind Project,” The Heartland Institute, September 27, 2022. Archived January 12, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/RYCxR

October 31–November 12, 2021

CFACT attended the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.40Peter Murphy. “COP 26: Armageddon awaits at the UN Climate Conference,” CFACT, November 3, 2021. Archived November 3, 2021. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/tx2Qo According to Peter Murphy, one of CFACT’s representatives shown in the official provisional list of registered participants (PLOP), CFACT activists handed out copies of Marc Morano‘s Climate Hustle 2 film during the event.41“Provisional list of registered participants” (PDF)UNFCCC, November 1, 2021. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Murphy wrote:42Peter Murphy. “COP 26: Armageddon awaits at the UN Climate Conference,” CFACT, November 3, 2021. Archived November 3, 2021. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/tx2Qo

“CFACT got to ask the only question permitted by NGOs. I stepped forward and asked them to comment about scientific findings which show that increased carbon emissions actually boost crop yields, which have led to record harvests for feeding the world. This would mean that CO2 isn’t just a ‘problem,’ but a benefit to helping feed the world. The panelists were having none of it — with one of them saying that any impact from CO2 has only a’negative’ effects, particularly on Africa, the region he represented.

Call that real climate denial.”

Listed CFACT representatives included:

April 6, 2021

Ronald Stein wrote an article at CFACT arguing “products from fossil fuels are lifesaving, and one of the best ways out of poverty.”43Ronald Stein. “U.S. pursues expensive electricity while much of world lives in energy poverty,” CFACT, April 6, 2021. Archived April 22, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/oBnbk

“In the poor world, replacing fossil fuels with new intermittent electricity sources like wind and solar power is hard because most people desperately want much more power at lower cost, not fickle power at high cost,” Stein claimed.44Ronald Stein. “U.S. pursues expensive electricity while much of world lives in energy poverty,” CFACT, April 6, 2021. Archived April 22, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/oBnbk

He also argued against electric vehicles (EVs), saying “exotic minerals and metals for EV batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, and fossil fuels are functionally irreplaceable, but there is a worldwide abundance of fossil fuels in virtually every country, but the minerals and metals for a ‘green’ society are limited to a few countries.”45Ben Jervey. “Koch-funded Group, Fueling US Forward, Echoes America Rising Squared in Misleading Attack on Electric Cars,” DeSmog, June 10, 2017.

As DeSmog has noted in its past debunking of similar statements by anti-EV campaigns, “gas-powered vehicles require some of the same ‘toxic’ rare earth metals” as EVs, while EVs are overall much cleaner than the alternative even when the production stage is considered.46Ben Jervey. “Koch-funded Group, Fueling US Forward, Echoes America Rising Squared in Misleading Attack on Electric Cars,” DeSmog, June 10, 2017.

March 14 – 15, 2021

In two separate articles at CFACT, David Wojick and Paul Driessen wrote in opposition of using the social cost of carbon (SCC) as a consideration in calculating the benefits of greenhouse gas regulations.

Wojick wrote positively of state lawsuits opposing the use of SCC calculations. He dismissed SCC:47David Wojick.”States sue to block ‘social cost” of carbon,'” CFACT, March 14, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/EdPPe

“The whole scare is based on outlandish doomsday computer models and SCC is arguably the most absurd of all,” Wojick claimed, adding: “The fundamental absurdity of the Social Cost of Carbon is that it goes out 300 years to get the supposed economic damages due to today’s minor emissions of carbon dioxide.”

According to Wojick, “In 300 years the global economy grows tremendously, just as it did in the last 300 years. The near term damages are negligible. In some models the CO2 increase is actually beneficial in the short run.”48David Wojick.”States sue to block ‘social cost” of carbon,'” CFACT, March 14, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/EdPPe

Driessen, in his article, described social cost of carbon as “a key tactic in a war on reliable, affordable American energy; on jobs, human welfare and human rights.”49Paul Driessen. “The social costs of carbon cancellation,” CFACT, March 15, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/lITd0

He commented: “hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide benefits outweigh costs by 50:1, 400:1 or even 500:1! Will Team Biden and others in the anti-hydrocarbon movement acknowledge any of this?”50Paul Driessen. “The social costs of carbon cancellation,” CFACT, March 15, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/lITd0

“In fact, eliminating carbon-based energy and carbon dioxide emissions will impose far greater human and ecological costs. It is fossil fuel replacements that will inflict incalculable damage to people and planet,” he added.51Paul Driessen. “The social costs of carbon cancellation,” CFACT, March 15, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/lITd0

February 25–March 3, 2021

Craig Rucker published an article in the Boston Herald,52Craig Rucker. “Lifting the veil on electric vehicle subsidies,” Boston Herald, February 27, 2021. Archived March 9, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/C3b8g Inside Sources,53Craig Rucker. “Electric Vehicle Subsidies and Other Fantasies,” InsideSources, February 25, 2021. Archived March 9. 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/EvixQ and The Chippewa Herald 54Craig Rucker. “Opinion: Electric Vehicle Subsidies and Other Fantasies,”The Chippewa Herald, March 3, 2021. Archived March 9, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/EvixQ arguing against tax incentives for electric vehicles. In the articles, Rucker echoed talking points of several anti-EV initiatives that have been backed by industry, as documented by DeSmog’s Koch vs Clean project.55Ben Jervey. “Koch-funded Group, Fueling US Forward, Echoes America Rising Squared in Misleading Attack on Electric Cars,” DeSmog, July 10, 2017.

“Zero-emission fantasies also ignore the essential role of fossil fuels in manufacturing ZEVs,” Rucker claimed. “From mining and processing the myriad metals and minerals for battery modules, wiring, drive trains and bodies, to actually making the components and finished vehicles, every step requires oil, natural gas, or coal.”56Craig Rucker. “Lifting the veil on electric vehicle subsidies,” Boston Herald, February 27, 2021. Archived March 9, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/C3b8g

He also claimed: “a 2015 study found the richest 20% of Americans received 90% of these generous EV subsidies. Lobbyists are clearly more valuable than engineers for EV manufacturers and drivers.”57Craig Rucker. “Lifting the veil on electric vehicle subsidies,” Boston Herald, February 27, 2021. Archived March 9, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/C3b8g

April 6, 2020

CFACT, represented by Craig Rucker, was signatory to an American Energy Alliance letter to President Donald Trump supporting the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule which would scrap federal fuel economy mandates under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program.58CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF)American Energy Alliance.

Describing CAFE, the letter contends: “Those families and individuals who prefer or need trucks, SUVs, and crossovers pay more to subsidize those who buy smaller vehicles or electric vehicles under the existing mandate. This significant, needless, and unjust cost is a very real regressive tax on American families that has made our country worse off.”59CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF)American Energy Alliance.

December 3, 2019

CFACT co-sponsored a rebuttal to the United Nations’ COP25 climate summit in Madrid. The event, titled “Rebutting the United Nations’ Climate Delusion,” was held in collaboration with the Heartland Institute, the European Institute for Climate and Energy (EIKE), and the CO2 Coalition. Deniers of consensus climate science in attendance included William Happer, EIKE’s Wolfgang Müller, Anthony Watts, Tom Harris, Stanley Goldenberg, and Christopher Monckton.60Alex Newman. “Skeptics Bring Science to UN,” The New American, December 6, 2019. Archived December 7, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/wip/qd7ui. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Heartland’s James Taylor described the event as a “climate reality forum,” and said:61Alex Newman. “Skeptics Bring Science to UN,” The New American, December 6, 2019. Archived December 7, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/wip/qd7ui. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Good news isn’t bad news. […] The evidence for a climate crisis simply doesn’t hold up. And that is not about attacking science, as many people would lead you to believe. It’s performing science, it’s advancing science. And again the news is good news, and that’s excellent for humanity, it’s excellent for people around the world, who would like to escape poverty and not be held down by energy restrictions imposed by the United Nations and national governments.”62Alex Newman. “Skeptics Bring Science to UN,” The New American, December 6, 2019. Archived December 7, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/wip/qd7ui. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

William Happer, a former member of President Trump’s National Security Council, opened his presentation with:

We are here under false pretenses, wasting our time talking about a non-existent climate emergency. And It’s hard to understand how much further the shrillness can go, as this started out as global warming, then it was climate change or global weirding, now it is climate crisis and climate emergency, what next, but stick around, it will happen. I hope sooner or later enough people recognize the phoniness of this bizarre environmental cult and bring it to an end.”63Alex Newman. “Skeptics Bring Science to UN,” The New American, December 6, 2019. Archived December 7, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/wip/qd7ui. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

December 3, 2019

CFACT distributed pamphlets written by Marc Morano at a press conference held by the Greta Thunberg-founded “Fridays for Future” youth group at the UN’s COP25 climate summit in Madrid.64Craig Rucker. “Greta’s ‘person of the year,’ but her climate kids are emotional and vacuous at COP 25,” cfact.org, December 11, 2019. Archived December 11, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/mij1P. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

CFACT described the press conference as being staged by “crying kids.”65Craig Rucker. “Greta’s ‘person of the year,’ but her climate kids are emotional and vacuous at COP 25,” cfact.org, December 11, 2019. Archived December 11, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/mij1P. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

The introduction to Morano’s document contained the following passages:

Teen school-skipping climate activists are testifying to the U.S. Congress and the United Nations and young children are being recruited for lawsuits against the U.S. government for its alleged climate ‘inaction.’ The phrase ‘climate emergency’ has emerged as the favorite for climate campaigners. But the arguments put forth by global warming advocates grossly distort the true facts on a host of issues, ranging from rising sea levels and record temperatures to melting polar caps and polar bears, among others. In short, there is no ‘climate crisis’ or a ‘climate emergency.’”66Craig Rucker. “Greta’s ‘person of the year,’ but her climate kids are emotional and vacuous at COP 25,” cfact.org, December 11, 2019. Archived December 11, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/mij1P. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

September 13, 2018

CFACT‘s Crag Rucker dressed up as Al Gore and led a CFACT march against the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.67CFACT exposes ‘climate zombies’ at California conference,” CFACT, September 14, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/A4JA5

“I (Craig Rucker), as Al Gore, stepped to the fore and said, ‘I ride around the world in personal jets and limo’s, everyone else should take public transportation.’  ‘Save the Earth stop global warming’ the climate zombies replied,” Rucker wrote at CFACT.68CFACT exposes ‘climate zombies’ at California conference,” CFACT, September 14, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/A4JA5

Rucker and the CFACT group repeated a number of myths around global warming, claiming “Climate models have never been right, but that doesn’t matter. […] Sea levels have risen at the same rate for centuries.  Polar bears are increasing.  Who cares?”69CFACT exposes ‘climate zombies’ at California conference,” CFACT, September 14, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/A4JA5

September 12, 2019

CFACT posted a commentary by Paul Driessen attacking 2020 Democratic presidential candidates’ plans for addressing global climate change.70Paul Driessen. “Dousing candidates and Green New Dealers with buckets of icy cold reality,” CFACT.org, September 12, 2019. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/w1Mg5

Claiming that “personal choices and living standards” would be sacrificed in any attempt to transition off of fossil fuels, Driessen said that renewable energy sources caused “far more environmental damage than any of the fossil fuel energy sources they would supposedly replace.”71Paul Driessen. “Dousing candidates and Green New Dealers with buckets of icy cold reality,” CFACT.org, September 12, 2019. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/w1Mg5

We do not face a climate emergency,” he added. “Computer models certainly predict all kinds of catastrophes. But both the models and the increasingly hysterical assertions of planetary chaos are completely out of touch with reality.”72Paul Driessen. “Dousing candidates and Green New Dealers with buckets of icy cold reality,” CFACT.org, September 12, 2019. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/w1Mg5

June 2018

CFACT put up a billboard on the I-10 in Louisiana reach reads “Russia funneled Green groups millions of dollars to oppose fracking & cripple American energy,” and “How’s that for COLLUSION?” CFACT‘s Graham Beduze and Adam Houser “spearheaded” the effort.73CFACT billboard — Russia funneled cash to Greens to cripple energy,” CFACT, July 21, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/pA6VB

A number of CFACT representatives also spoke on a panel at the Heartland Insite’s 2018 America First Energy Conference (AFEC 2018) in New Orleans Louisiana titled “Battling Russia and America’s Big Green Machine,” which similarly promoted the idea that “Russians have funneled millions to groups in the West to oppose energy exploration, especially fracking.”74PANEL 5B. BATTLING RUSSIA AND AMERICA’S BIG GREEN MACHINE,” America First Energy ConferenceArchived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/eqySk

April 23, 2018

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), represented by Craig Rucker, was among 22 groups signed on to an open letter asking President Trump to ignore recent criticism of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.75Dear Mr. President” (PDF) retrieved from the Heartland Institute. Archived .pdf file at DeSmog.

In a speech to the U.S. Senate, a group of Democratic senators identified the organizations as front groups for the Koch Brothers and other wealthy donors, nicknamed the “Web of Deceit.” The senators outlined how, in addition to funding from the Koch network, many of the groups use untraceable “dark money” funneled through groups like Donors Capital Fund and Donors Trust to influence legislation, particularly with regards to climate and pollution.

Senator Whitehouse outlined it as “a web of deceit conceived and bankrolled by the Koch brothers and other self-interested billionaires to advocate for very selfish and unpatriotic policies.” Whitehouse added: “This web of deceit has infiltrated and populated the Trump administration, and it is swamping the interests of everyday Americans.76Senator Whitehouse. “Time to wake up: Web of Deceit” April 23, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/HzIsa

The full list of pro-Pruitt signatories and their respective organizations is as follows:

February 5, 2018

Writing at CFACT, David Wojick alleges that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “starts with its conclusion then mines the scientific literature for ways to justify it. One might call this Reverse Science, an analog to Reverse Engineering,” and describes their draft as “hyper-alarmist.”771.5 degrees of climate madness,” CFACT, February 5, 2018. Archived February 20, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/cM5Z0

Wojick claims that the Paris Climate Agreement targets of limited future warming to 2.0 degrees C is “silly” as is the “sillier” target of 1.5 degrees.781.5 degrees of climate madness,” CFACT, February 5, 2018. Archived February 20, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/cM5Z0

“The big reason for this is money,” Wojick claims. “Given the goofy computer models it will be much harder, hence much more expensive, to hit the 1.5 degrees of warming target. In fact immediate drastic action is required. Hence the developing countries, which control the Paris process, get a lot more money a lot sooner.”791.5 degrees of climate madness,” CFACT, February 5, 2018. Archived February 20, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/cM5Z0

Wojick concludes:

“So basically the alarmists have created a problem for themselves. They first made the models “hot,” which means highly sensitive to CO2, in order to hype the scare. Now they have made the warming-limit target impossibly low for political correctness (and revenue enhancement).

“Demanding the impossible is the road to failure. Let’s hope so.”801.5 degrees of climate madness,” CFACT, February 5, 2018. Archived February 20, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/cM5Z0

September 28, 2017

A fundraising mailer, obtained by Greenpeace, detailed CFACT‘s goals to influence students in America’s schools and college campuses. The mailer began with a letter from climate change denier John Coleman, who claimed that climate change is not a threat:81Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

“Unlike so many of my colleagues, who are caught up in climate change hysteria, I am confident that ‘man-made’ global warming does not pose a catastrophic threat (as Al Gore says) to the future of mankind and the Earth itself,” Coleman wrote. “I’ve studied this subject for decades. I know beyond any doubt the science behind the global warming frenzy is based on a completely failed theory. There is nothing alarming in any of the actual evidence.”82Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

Coleman claims that “politicians and Radical Green activists step over the bounds of what science actually reveals and into the realms of political advocacy and demagoguery.”83Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

He ended with a call to action for the reader to “join my friend David Rothbard and his Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) in raising the alarm over the rampant climate indoctrination infesting America’s schools and colleges.”84Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

Following Coleman’s letter was one by Rothbard where he outlined his need for funds and strategy to counter climate “alarmism” in classrooms:85Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

“Together, we must make sure CFACT‘s programs – especially designed to push back against Green indoctrination in America ‘s classrooms – are fully funded and ready to immediately counteract Left-wing climate alarmism in classrooms and on campuses across America,” Rothbard wrote.86Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

Rothbard further suggested that environmentalists have a “socialist” agenda that must be countered:87Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

“’Genuine environmental stewardship’ means that instead of the Green socialists’ agenda of alarm and hysteria based on poor science, CFACT advances practical solutions and sensible approaches based on facts. […] 

There can be no doubt: The Green Left’s stranglehold on the minds of our nation’s children and young people today is staggering. It’s a huge problem.”88Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

It then outlined a plan to combat mainstream climate education in classrooms:89Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

First, we need to assess the scope of the problem. We have commissioned a major new study to determine what kids are being taught. Is climate indoctrination universal? Or is it worse in some places than others? […]”

The second part of our plan is to use our national assessment study to identify the worst offenders. […]”

The third part of our plan is a public policy solution.

Rothbard’s described a significant “victory” where CFACT swayed the school board in West Virginia to teach skeptical climate change material, and suggested they would follow it as a template for other states.90Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

CFACT was able to convince school board leaders in the state that students deserve to learn all the facts and are smart enough to weigh alternative explanations,” he said, noting that this initiative would “serve as a model for similar programs in other states.” He announced that CFACT‘s goal “is to take our West Virginia success model to at least two other states this year. And more if funding allows.”91Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

He then outlined the fourth element of the CFACT plan, which would be to target children outside of school:92Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

The fourth part of our plan is to go around the in-classroom indoctrination and open our own communication channel to students outside of school. This effort begins with the development of a series of humorous and educational short videos to be presented on YouTube – one of the most popular Internet destinations for young people. […] We have plans to dramatically expand our social media presence, especially to young people.”93Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

He lists other social media platforms that would be integrated into the campaign including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch. Another key element, focusing on college students, is CFACT‘s existing Collegians program:94Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

The fifth part of our plan to fight climate indoctrination is to intensify the impact and reach of our already highly successful – and one of a kind — CFACT Collegians program. […] CFACT Collegians is the only program in America solely dedicated to confronting global warming hysteria and other misinformation spewed by the radical environmentalists at America’s colleges and universities.”

”[…] Right now, CFACT has set up Collegians chapters on 44 campuses. That’s 44 out of more than 4000 colleges and universities in the nation. CFACT would like to establish many more chapters – at least 20 more this school year in our fight against campus indoctrination.”95Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

Rothbard mentions that the Collegians chapters “are also an excellent place to showcase CFACT’s groundbreaking documentary, Climate Hustle, on college campuses.”96Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

CFACT‘s entire “anti-climate indoctrination budget” comes to $470,000, broken down as follows:97Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow CFACT Weather Channel Mailer 2017-09-28,” DocumentCloud.

  • $50,000 for an “indoctrination survey”
  • $50,000 “to tour ‘red’ America with our West Virginia success model to get other states with sympathetic leadership to help us fight climate indoctrination.”
  • $85,000 “to develop the entertaining short videos we plan for YouTube and to expand our social media outreach to young people.”
  • $100,000 for “promotion of Climate Hustle over the next few months”
  • $200,000 for “20 new Collegians chapters in four regions of the country” 

July 2017

CFACT organized and promoted the Australian premier of Climate Hustle with appearances by Marc Morano.98Taking the Facts Down Under,” Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. Retrieved from Mailchimp. Archive.isURL: https://archive.fo/IyM20 Event dates were also listed on Joanne Nova‘s blog:99Finally, see ‘Climate Hustle’ in Australia — Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney.” JoNova, June 27, 2017. Archived July 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/nvByX

July 12- Melbourne, Australia
Village Roadshow Theatrette- State Library of Victoria
Doors open at 5:30 PM, film to start at 6:00 PM
Reception and Q/A session to follow

July 15- Brisbane, Australia
Sponsored by the Australian Institute for Progress
New Farm Cinema
Doors open at 4:30 PM

July 18- Sydney, Australia
Club Five Dock
Doors open at 7:00 PM

Before the film’s Australian debut, Climate scientist Professor Will Steffen reviewed portions of the film for DeSmog.100Graham Readfearn. “Notorious Climate Science Denier Marc Morano Flying to Australia With Misleading Climate Hustle Movie,” DeSmog, July 6, 2017.

Steffen is an emeritus professor at Australian National University and a member of the not-for-profit Climate Council. He said: “This is just the usual rubbish from the usual suspects – a re-hash of misleading and downright incorrect arguments that denialists have trotted out for a long time.”101Graham Readfearn. “Notorious Climate Science Denier Marc Morano Flying to Australia With Misleading Climate Hustle Movie,” DeSmog, July 6, 2017.

Reviewing a section that downplays the role of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, Steffen noted it “misrepresents how the carbon cycle works” by ignoring how oceans and land absorb CO2 – a very basic and well-known mechanism in the carbon cycle.102Graham Readfearn. “Notorious Climate Science Denier Marc Morano Flying to Australia With Misleading Climate Hustle Movie,” DeSmog, July 6, 2017.

Steffen added, “What the film didn’t say is that both oxygen and nitrogen, which comprise about 99 per cent of the atmospheric gases, are transparent to UV, visible and heat radiation. They don’t play a role in the energy balance at the Earth’s surface.”103Graham Readfearn. “Notorious Climate Science Denier Marc Morano Flying to Australia With Misleading Climate Hustle Movie,” DeSmog, July 6, 2017.

Dr. Andrew King, a climate scientist at Monash University in Melbourne, also had an opportunity to look at the film. He described the section on carbon dioxide’s role as “muddled.”104Graham Readfearn. “Notorious Climate Science Denier Marc Morano Flying to Australia With Misleading Climate Hustle Movie,” DeSmog, July 6, 2017.

 “Whilst there are certainly other potential drivers of changes in the climate we know that over the last century we have greatly increased the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and, through detection and attribution analyses, we know that the rising levels of atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases have driven the rise in global temperature,” King said. “Changes in other potential drivers, like solar activity, simply can’t explain the 1C rise in global temperature we have observed.”105Graham Readfearn. “Notorious Climate Science Denier Marc Morano Flying to Australia With Misleading Climate Hustle Movie,” DeSmog, July 6, 2017.

Morano would be accompanied in Australia by CFACT‘s Executive Director Craig Rucker, as well as CFACT president and founder David Rothbard.106Graham Readfearn. “Notorious Climate Science Denier Marc Morano Flying to Australia With Misleading Climate Hustle Movie,” DeSmog, July 6, 2017.

Rucker said: “CFACT has a lot of fans and followers in Australia who have long wanted us to make a trip. We were beckoned to come and are excited to premiere our film Climate Hustle.”

Nova also listed some groups involved in organising the trip included the Galileo Movement (once managed by current One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts), the Australian Environment Foundation, the Australian Tax Payers Alliance, and the Australian Institute for Progress.107Finally, see ‘Climate Hustle’ in Australia — Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney.” JoNova, June 27, 2017. Archived July 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/nvByX

May 8, 2017

CFACT, represented by Craig Rucker, is listed on an open letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him “to withdraw fully from the Paris Climate Treaty and to stop all taxpayer funding of UN global warming programs.”108“Dear Mr. President” (PDF), retrieved from Competitive Enterprise Institute. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

DeSmog reported that the 40 groups represented in the letter, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), The Heartland Institute, and the Heritage Foundation, have received a combined total of millions of dollars from the Koch Brothers, ExxonMobil, and other industry groups.109Graham Readfearn. “Conservative Groups Pushing Trump To Exit Paris Climate Deal Have Taken Millions From Koch Brothers, Exxon,” DeSmog, May 10, 2017.

Analysis also showed that the groups accepted about $80 million through Donors Capital Fund and Donors Trust, two groups that have been confirmed is a key financial source for key U.S-based climate change denial groups.110Susanne Goldberg. “Conservative groups spend up to $1bn a year to fight action on climate change,” The Guardian, December 20, 2013. Archived May 12, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/TB2yy

April 29, 2017

CFACT representatives attended The People’s Climate March,111Skeptics Attend People’s Climate March With New Report & Billboards – Denied Media Credentials,” Climate Depot, April 29, 2017. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CKQpj handing out copies of their new report titled “How to talk about Climate Change issues 2017.” According to Climate Depot, the” talking points memo […] is a complete skeptics’ guide for elected officials, media and the public on how to discuss global warming backed up by dozens of citations to peer-reviewed research.”112How to talk about Climate Change issues 2017” (PDF), Climate Depot & CFACT, April 21, 2017.

We look forward to wading into the crowds at the march and presenting the scientific facts to counter this utter nonsense, ” Morano said. “Make no mistake, climate campaigners who tout UN agreements and EPA regulations as a way to control Earth’s temperature and storminess are guilty of belief in superstition,” he added.113Skeptics Attend People’s Climate March With New Report & Billboards – Denied Media Credentials,” Climate Depot, April 29, 2017. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CKQpj

Notably, the so-called “peer reviewed research” mentioned by CFACT appears to include opinion pieces by prominent climate change deniers including Richard Tol, Roy Spencer & Joseph Bast (Wall Street Journal article), Patrick Moore, blogger Tony Heller, David Rose, Will Happer, Roger Pielke Jr., and articles from Climate Depot.114Skeptics Attend People’s Climate March With New Report & Billboards – Denied Media Credentials,” Climate Depot, April 29, 2017. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CKQpj

November 15, 2016

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)’s Marc Morano released the “2016 State of the Climate Report” (PDF),115“2016 State of the Climate Report” (PDF), CFACT, November 15, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. which CFACT delivered to the UN COP22.116Craig Rucker. “CFACT delivers ‘State of the Climate’ report to UN COP 22,” CFACT, November 15, 2016. Archived November 21, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ZeNRn

“Here at the UN climate conference they know the game has changed. They are uncertain how much. CFACT will make sure they find out,” Craig Rucker wrote, discussing the report’s release and Donald Trump’s victory in the US election.117Craig Rucker. “CFACT delivers ‘State of the Climate’ report to UN COP 22,” CFACT, November 15, 2016. Archived November 21, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ZeNRn

The report’s introduction makes a number of assertions, and begins by claiming that “Slightly higher atmospheric CO2 levels cannot possibly supplant the numerous complex and inter-connected forces that have always determined Earth’s climate.” According to Morano’s report, there has been no global warming for 18 years, severe weather events haven’t increased, we are having more snow, sea levels have not risen, and polar bears “are doing fine” — virtually identical claims to those Morano made in “Climate Truth File 2016,” which CFACT released in October 2016.

October 4, 2016

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) released a report titled “Climate Truth File 2016” (PDF) written by Marc Morano, which claims that “The scientific reality is that on virtually every claim — from A to Z — the promoters of manmade climate fears are falling short or going in the opposite direction.”118“Climate Truth File 2016” (PDF), CFACT, October 4, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. The document appears to be an update to CFACT‘s previously published “Climate Truth File: 2014” (PDF), which begins with a nearly identical introductory statement. Below are the document’s summarized claims:119“CFACT Climate Truth File: 2014” (PDF), October 6, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

  • “Global temperatures have been virtually flat for about 18 years according to satellite data, and peer-reviewed literature is now scaling back predictions of future warming.”
  • “The U.S. has had no Category 3 or larger hurricane make landfall since 2005 – the longest spell since the Civil War.”
  • “Strong F3 or larger tornadoes have been in decline since the 1970s.”
  • “Despite claims of snow being ‘a thing of the past,’ cold season snowfall has been rising.”
  • “Sea level rise rates have been steady for over a century, with recent deceleration.”
  • “Droughts and floods are neither historically unusual nor caused by mankind, and there is no evidence we are currently having any unusual weather.
  • So-called hottest year claims are based on year-to-year temperature data that differs by only a few HUNDREDTHS of a degree to tenths of a degree Fahrenheit – differences that are within the margin of error in the data. In other words, global temperatures have essentially held very steady with no sign of acceleration.”
  • “A 2015 NASA study found Antarctica was NOT losing ice mass and ‘not currently contributing to sea level rise.’”
  • “2016 Arctic sea ice was 22% greater than the recent low point of 2012. The Arctic sea ice is now in a 10-year ‘pause’ with ‘no significant change in the past decade’”
  • “Deaths due to extreme weather have declined dramatically.”
  • “Polar bears are doing fine, with their numbers way up since the 1960s.”

The document celebrates the success of climate change deniers in blocking bills in congress: “ and every time a climate bill has come before the U.S. Congress it has failed to pass. There never was any real climate debate!” it reads. It also denounces the UN Paris climate agreement, claiming “so-called ‘solutions’ to global warming are purely symbolic when it comes to climate.”

Morano also makes the often-repeated argument that climate change measures will harm the poor: “ Attempting to control weather and climate will have no impact on climate, but a huge impact on economic development of poor nations due to so-called ‘solutions’ of global warming that would limit development and ban many forms of life-saving carbon based energy.”

According to the report, “The reality is that politicians who say government ‘can do something about droughts, floods, sea levels, hurricanes, and tornadoes are practicing the equivalent of medieval witchcraft.”

July 12, 2016

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), represented by David Rothbard, was among 22 groups represented in a “Coalition” open letter pushing back against what the Heartland Institute describes as an “affront to free speech.” The groups are responding to the recent Web of Denial Resolution brought up in the Senate, calling out fossil fuel industry-funded groups denying climate change.120Jim Lakely. “#WebOfDenial Push by Senate Dems Exposes Their Hatred of Free Speech,” Somewhat Reasonable (Heartland Institute Blog), July 12, 2016. Archived July 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vvL0t

According to the Climate Investigations Center, all but one of the open letter’s signatory organizations have taken money (totalling at least $92 million since 1997) from the “climate denial web” including Koch Brothers’ various foundations, ExxonMobil, and two “Dark Money” organizations, Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund.121Cindy Baxter. “Front Groups Attacking #WebofDenial Senate Action Took Over $92M in Dark, Dirty Money,” Desmog, July 14, 2016. Originally posted at Climate Investigations Center.

Championed by Senators Whitehouse, Markey, Schatz, Boxer, Merkley, Warren, Sanders, and Franken, the resolution condemns what they are calling the #WebOfDenial — “interconnected groups – funded by the Koch brothers, major fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil and Peabody Coal, identity-scrubbing groups like Donors Trust and Donors Capital, and their allies – developed and executed a massive campaign to deceive the public about climate change to halt climate action and protect their bottom lines.”122Brendan Demelle. “Senators Launch Resolution, Speech Blitz Calling Out #WebOfDenial Blocking Climate Action, DeSmog, July 11, 2016.

The open letter addresses the senators, calling them “tyrants”: 

“We hear you. Your threat is clear: There is a heavy and inconvenient cost to disagreeing with you. Calls for debate will be met with political retribution. That’s called tyranny. And, we reject it.123Coalition Letter to Senate Web of Denial Resolution (PDF). Retrieved from the Heartland Institute. Archived .pdf on file at DesMog.

The full list of signatories and their respective organizations is as follows:

June 22, 2016

After a Massachusetts court sided with a group of teenagers by ruling the state had failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,“124Massachusetts Court Sides with Teenagers in ‘Historic’ Climate Victory,” CommonDreams, May 17, 2016. Archived June 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/7wyKw Marc Morano—executive director of CFACT‘s ClimateDepot project—claimed today’s youth are being indoctrinated by the environmental movement:125Massachusetts Loses Climate Action Case Brought by Youths,” Heartland Institute, June 22, 2016. Archived June 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hk4JL

It’s a brilliant tactic by the environmental left,” Morano said. “It gives the kids something tangible they can hold on to and it radicalizes them about the environment early on. However, kids are being spoon-fed a version of science that does not comport with reality.

The environmental left carefully censors or bans opposing ideas, like in Portland, Oregon, where you now can’t even mention in school textbooks climate change may not be as bad as we thought,” Morano said.

Accurate climate science is being suppressed, meaning the kids don’t get to hear opposing views,” said Morano. “It’s narrative-crafting, the same kind of thing you would expect from any partisan campaign group.

And then you add in the media, with people like Leonardo DiCaprio and Laurie David telling kids if you’re a global warming skeptic, you are not cool,” said Morano. “I guess they’re afraid the kids will instantly become skeptics if they hear any opposing ideas.”

June 20, 2016

CFACT Advisor Larry Bell writes that we should “cut ExxonMobil some slack for not giving the matter [of climate change] full attention.” Bell is writing with reference to the recent investigations by state attorneys general into how much ExxonMobil knew about climate change while it was denying it existence publicly and to shareholders.126Ben Jervey. “State Investigations Into What Exxon Knew Double, and Exxon Gets Defensive,” DeSmog, April 1, 2016.

Bell’s piece, titled “Hype and hypocrisy of climate attacks on Exxon,” is full of heavily sarcastic statements like the following:127Larry Bell. “Hype and Hypocrisy of Climate Attacks on Exxon,” Newsmax, June 20, 2016. Archived June 23, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/iyC0a

“Sure, they’ll probably try to confuse us with trick questions: Like why, apart from natural 1998 and 2015 El Nino spikes, satellites haven’t recorded any statistically significant global warming for nearly two decades; why sea levels have been rising at a constant rate of 7 inches per century without acceleration; and why no category 3-5 hurricanes have struck the U.S. coast since October 2005 — a record lull since 1900.

“But don’t trust your lyin’ eyes; continue to be assured that the science is settled. Global warming is an imminent threat, we’re causing it, and ExxonMobil, the evil profiteering culprit, should have told us.

Instead, they callously continued to produce oil and gas without informing investors and the public of dire climate change consequences.”

June 13, 2016

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) was listed as a creditor in Peabody Energy’s 2016 bankruptcy filings, reports the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch).128Nick Surgey. “Peabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding,” PRWatch, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Bb3o1

While the available bankruptcy documents do not list the scale or dates of funding, they outline Peabody Energy’s financial ties to a large network of groups promoting climate change denial.129In re: Peabody Energy Corporation, et al. Debtors,” United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division, Case 16-42529, May 27, 2016. Retrieved from DocumentCloud.

Prominent individuals appearing in the documents include climate deniers Willie SoonRichard LindzenRoy Spencer and Richard Berman. The long list of organizations also includes groups such as Americans for ProsperityAmerican Legislative Exchange CouncilCFACTInstitute for Energy ResearchState Policy Network, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens more.130Farron Cousins. “Court Documents Show Coal Giant Peabody Energy Funded Dozens Of Climate Denial Groups,” DeSmog, June 13, 2016.

The Guardian also analysed and reported on the Peabody bankruptcy findings:131Suzanne Goldenberg and Helena Bengtsson. “Biggest US coal company funded dozens of groups questioning climate change,” The Guardian, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/OrVtG

These groups collectively are the heart and soul of climate denial,” said Kert Davies, founder of the Climate Investigation Center, who has spent 20 years tracking funding for climate denial. “It’s the broadest list I have seen of one company funding so many nodes in the denial machine.”

The company’s filings reveal funding for a range of organisations which have fought Barack Obama’s plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and denied the very existence of climate change. […]

Among Peabody’s beneficiaries, the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change has insisted – wrongly – that carbon emissions are not a threat but “the elixir of life” while the American Legislative Exchange Council is trying to overturn Environmental Protection Agency rules cutting emissions from power plants. Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity campaigns against carbon pricing. The Oklahoma chapter was on the list. […]

The breadth of the groups with financial ties to Peabody is extraordinary. Thinktanks, litigation groups, climate scientists, political organisations, dozens of organisations blocking action on climate all receiving funding from the coal industry,” said Nick Surgey, director of research for the Center for Media and Democracy.

We expected to see some denial money, but it looks like Peabody is the treasury for a very substantial part of the climate denial movement.”

Notable organizations listed in the initial documents include:

Notable individuals named in the initial documents include the following:

December 13, 2015

Writing as a guest blogger on Watts Up With That, CFACT‘s executive director Craig Rucker denounced the latest UN climate change agreement:132Craig Rucker. “Paris #COP21 agreement – Watered down but still dangerous,” Watts Up With That, December 13, 2015. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WUhrC

“This agreement will not meaningfully alter the temperature of the Earth, even under the U.N.’s own computer models.“The bad news is that it plants the seeds of a new UN climate regime that left unchecked will swell into a bureaucratic behemoth.”

December 2015

CFACT, the Heartland Institute, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) hosted a press conference in Paris titled “A Day of Examining the Data” set to coincide with the UN Paris climate conference.133Nicolas Loris. “How UN Conferences Have Created a False Climate Narrative,” The Daily Signal, December 18, 2015. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hBgoL

The event, which reportedly “brought climatologists to talk about the state of climate science and economists to talk about the importance of free market energy policy” was met with protestors.134Nicolas Loris. “How UN Conferences Have Created a False Climate Narrative,” The Daily Signal, December 18, 2015. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hBgoL

“The overall theme of Heartland’s conference was this: Global warming policies are a costly non-solution to a non-problem. The agreement reached in Paris will only serve to implement more of those policies,” one of the event’s speakers writes in The Daily Signal.135Nicolas Loris. “How UN Conferences Have Created a False Climate Narrative,” The Daily Signal, December 18, 2015. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hBgoL

July 2014 – December 2015

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) produced a documentary hosted by Marc Morano, head of communications at CFACT, titled “Climate Hustle: The Global Warming Shakedown.”136Donald Kendal. “Climate Hustle: The Global Warming Shakedown,” Somewhat Reasonable, November 13, 2014. Archived July 15, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/AkkKL

Climate Hustle’s “red carpet premiere” (as Morano described it) coincided with the second week of United Nations climate talks talking place in Paris (COP21). The Narwhal reported that the the documentary should be seen as “propaganda” and that Morano was “digging around in the trash to look for old news.”137Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” The Narwhal, November 12, 2015.

DeSmog journalists, who had RSVP‘d to view the opening of the film, were denied entrance at the screening in Paris where Marc Morano and Craig Rucker claimed the event was sold out. DeSmog was later told by attendees that the theatre was only 70 percent full.138Graham Readfearn. “Scientists Slam Movie Clip from Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Documentary as ‘Patently Stupid’ and Misleading,” DeSmog, January 5, 2016.

In an interview with Ezra Levant, Morano has said that he won’t be interviewing mainstream climate scientists for the film:

“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.”139Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” The Narwhal, November 12, 2015.

Publicity material listed the following “key scientists” (PDF) as appearing in the film:140Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” The Narwhal, November 12, 2015. “Background on Key Scientists Appearing in Climate Hustle” (PDF), climatehustle.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog

The documentary reported to “cool down the global warming hype.” CFACT started with the goal to raise $250,000 in donations to cover the production, marketing, and distribution of the film to get it into as many theaters and large cities as possible.

Trailer below:

According to the film’s website, the project received donations from 1,490 backers and reached a total of $251,514 in funding towards production and distribution.

DeSmog notes that Climate Hustle shares a number of experts with a video by the Cornwall Alliance titled “Where the Grass is Greener” including statistician William Briggs, Tom Harris, Australian “sceptic” Bob Carter, Lord Christopher Monckton and blogger Anthony Watts.141Graham Readfearn. “The Evangelical Christian Climate Deniers Behind Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Documentary,” DeSmog, November 19, 2015.

August 2015

CFACT‘s Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow, have been making appearances on university campuses to “challenge the liberal orthodoxy all too rampant on America’s colleges and universities” with regards to climate change. On August 20, representatives met at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, to share a graph showing “there has been no meaningful change in global temperatures for most of those students’ lives.” Video below.142Craig Rucker. “Watch students wake up about warming,” CFACT, August 20, 2015. Archived September 22, 2015. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/6ufhG

This is part of CFACT‘s “Keep Calm Climate Changes” campaign, which aims to educate students on the issue of global warming and the importance of energy freedom.143Adam Houser. “Georgia Tech Enters the Global Warming Fray,” cfactcampus.org, September 1, 2015. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/D1EUB

CFACT describes their “Keep Calm Climate Changes Campaign” as follows:144Keep Calm-Climate Changes Campaign,” Cfactcampus.org. Accessed September 21, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

“The primary focus of the Keep Calm Climate Changes campaign is educating students about the facts behind the current climate change debate. This campaign seeks to show students the real facts about climate change, and empower them to bring the discussion to their campus. Issues like the Medieval warm period, different possible causes of climate change (such as solar activity, or even the nature of our climate), studies indicating the last interglacial period was warmer than today, and the failure of recent dire predictions about the climate all show the debate on climate change is not nearly as settled as many global warming proponents would have us believe. Almost no research has been done to determine if climate change is a natural phenomenon, and recent studies indicate there has been no global warming in the last 19 years. Some scientists are even saying we are nearing the beginning of a new period of global cooling. This collegiate grassroots campaign is meant to increase awareness about climate change issues, and give college students the facts they need to intelligently debate man made global warming advocates.”

June 2015

A fundraising letter was penned on behalf of The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow that seeks $425,000 (requested by S. Fred Singer) in order to work against the United Nations deal on global warming, which Singer calls the “radical, economy-wrecking and sovereignty-destroying UN climate pact.”

A leaked copy of the letter, sent to CFACT supporters, was obtained by The Guardian. “This is a very dangerous treaty and it is something that we think should not be supported by the international community,” said Craig Rucker, the executive director of CFACT. “We want to make sure it doesn’t happen.”145Suzanne Goldenberg. “US climate deniers call Paris summit ‘a threat’ to the world,” The Guardian, June 26, 2015. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Y5fp9

The letter describes 2015 as a “make or break year” for climate, and says the $425,000 would be used to send a group of “climate truth tellers” to the talks in Paris. Additional funds would go to a spoiler film by Marc Morano

June 11–12, 2015

CFACT is listed as a co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute’s Tenth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC10) held in Washington, DC.146Sponsors,” ICCC10. Archived July 15, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Uyj2K

Other co-sponsors of the event included the following organizations:

April 28, 2015

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) sent representatives to the conference on climate change at the Vatican.

According to the Heartland Institute“Unfortunately, they [Heartland and CFACT representatives] were not allowed to speak at the conference; but they created sensational news across the world by well attended press conferences.”147James H. Rust. “Pope Francis’ Encyclical on Global Warming Fails,” The Heartlander, June 23, 2015. Archived July 15, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2Erkd

July 7 – 9, 2014

CFACT‘s Executive Director Craig Rucker was a moderator at the Heartland Institute‘s Ninth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC9) in Las Vegas, Nevada.148Return of Climate Denial-a-Palooza: Heartland Institute Hitches Anti-Science Wagon to Vegas FreedomFest,” DeSmogBlog, July 7, 2014. Archived July 14, 2014. Rucker was part of Panel Nine’s discussion, “Communicating Climate Change: The Blogosphere,” with Marc MoranoTony Heller, and Russell Cook.1499th International Conference on Climate Change Speakers,” Heartland Institute. Archived July 14, 2014. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/L5hQx

November 2013

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) declared in a UN-sanctioned press conference during COP19 talks that the world should be following Australia’s lead in repealing laws to price carbon emissions.150Graham Readfearn. “Climate Denial Group CFACT Congratulates Australia During Warsaw Talks,” DeSmog, November 19, 2013.

CFACT’s Marc Morano described coal as “the moral choice, particularly for the developing world.”

“The model for the world right now should be Australia,” Morano said. “Australia gets it. Scientifically they get it, politically they get it and particularly when it comes to the United Nations, they get it. They are pulling out of this, they are repealing their carbon tax and Canada seems to be intrigued by what Australia is doing.” “Australia gets it – they have realised what the United Nations is doing here today. Viva Australia – let’s hope the world follows Australia’s model,” said Morano.

81-year-old former Apollo astronaut Walter Cunningham also spoke at the CFACT conference, admitting he was no climate scientist. 

“Sceptics like us are challenged to disprove their hypothesis,” Cunningham said. “Scientists are best qualified to deal with the scientific questions but we all have to deal with the financial consequences of any actions taken on bad science.”

“In the 1980s a small group of individuals became concerned about the Earth’s temperature and what it might do in the future. I hesitate to call them scientists because they have abandoned their scientific principals by which their guess about temperature increases and the cause could achieve scientific acceptance or rejection.”

He criticized some climate scientists for being “alarmists”, but then described measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions as a “fight to avoid the economic destruction of our society.” He said scientists had “dreamed up” the hypothesis of human caused climate change and had convinced “most of the media” that the science was solid.

May 21–23, 2012

CFACT was an official Co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute’s Seventh International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC7).151Cosponsors,” 7th International Conference on Climate Change. Archived May 10, 2012. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/VAY3r

December 2011

CFACT generated media attention at the COP17 Conference in Durban when they parachuted onto a Durban beach waving “Climategate 2.0” banners. Accompanying them was prominent climate change skeptic Lord Christopher Monckton.152CFACT makes media waves at COP17 climate talks,” CFACT , December 8, 2011. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/aau38

Later in the day, CFACT arranged a press conference with Senator Inhofe where they released Climate Depot’s new “A-Z Climate Reality Check” special report.153CFACT makes media waves at COP17 climate talks,” CFACT , December 8, 2011. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/aau38

December 2009

CFACT hosted an event called The Copenhagen Climate Challenge at the same time as the COP15 conference in Copenhagen.

Craig Rucker, Executive Director of CFACT, spoke to the press:

“We think there is no consensus on climate change and there should not be a treaty from Copenhagen based on a lack of consensus.”154Copenhagen climate summit: Behind the scenes at the sceptics’ conference,” The Telegraph, December 9, 2009. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/BIUd9

Ian Plimer was reported to be “a star attraction of the two-day event” which also featured Fred Singer, Nils Axel Morner, and other climate change skeptics155.Lenore Taylor. “Plimer the toast of Copenhagen sceptics meeting,” The Australian, December 10, 2009. Archived September 14, 2012.

December 2007

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow sent a set of delegates to the thirteenth United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), including a number of prominent climate change skeptics including the following:156List of participants” (PDF), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, December 14, 2007. Archived July 15, 2015.

August 2, 2002

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow was one of a group of right-wing think tanks including Americans for Tax Reform, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute who lobbied for President Bush to boycott the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. Bush did not attend.157(Press Release) “Africa: Corporate-funded Lobbyists Aimed to Sabotage Johannesburg Summit,” AllAfrica.com (Sub. required), August 19, 2002. Archived July 15, 2015.

June 7, 2002

CFACT President David Rothbard signed a letter to President Bush that asked him to withdraw the “Climate Action Report 2002.”

The letter summarized that Bush should direct that the report “be re-written on the basis of sound science and without relying on discredited products of the previous administration.”

The report adds that Bush should “dismiss or re-assign all administration employees who are not pursuing your agenda, just as you have done in several similar instances.”158Fred L. Smith, Jr. “Joint Letter to President Bush On the EPA’s Climate Action Report,” Competitive Enterprise Institute, June 7, 2002. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qwAHM

September 27, 2000

CFACT and the National Center for Public Policy Research awarded Congressman Helen Chenoweth- Hage (R-ID) the new “Friend of American Freedom Award” which recognized her for her “distinguished record of defending the United States against environmental treaties, United Nations (U.N.) programs and other globalist policies that pose a threat to the nation’s sovereignty.”159Congressman Helen Chenoweth-Hage Honored With “Friend of American Freedom Award,”  The National Center fore Public Policy Research, September 28, 2000. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/E7QRu

1999

CFACT President David Rothbard has been described as the “Driving Force” behind the Cornwall Declaration, a document produced by the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance (ISA) which was later rebranded the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation.160Conference Speakers,” Freedom21. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/G2z4i

ThinkProgress offers the following description of ISA/the Cornwall Alliance and CFACT‘s connection:161Lee Fang. “Exclusive: The Oily Operators Behind The Religious Climate Change Denial Front Group, Cornwall Alliance,“ ThinkProgress, June 15, 2010. Archived May 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Uir8X

“[A] group called the ‘Interfaith Stewardship Alliance’ (ISA) was launched to oppose action on carbon emissions and to deny the existence of climate chance. One of the men guiding this group was Paul Driessen, a consultant for ExxonMobil, the mining industry, and for CFACT. For ‘stream lining’ reasons, ISA relaunched as the Cornwall Alliance in 2006. With the new name came a redesigned website, highly produced web videos, and an organized network of churches to distribute climate change denying propaganda to hundreds of pastors around the country. The branding for the Cornwall Alliance is derived from the ‘Cornwall Declaration,’ a 1999 document pushing back against the creation-care movement in the evangelical community. The Declaration ‘stressed a free-market environmental stewardship and emphasized that individuals and private organizations should be trusted to care for their own property without government intervention.’”

March 16, 1989

Craig Rucker and David Rothbard approached the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) requesting “corporate involvement and support” towards the Committee For a Constructive Tomorrow’s efforts, according to CMA document‘s minutes. The documents describe CFACT‘s purpose as to “fight the Public Interest Research Groups.”162Chemical Manufacturers Association Minutes,” Chemical Industry Archives, March 16, 1989. Archived March 14, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

CFACT Contact & Location

As of May, 2017:163Contact,” CFACT. Archived May 27, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/p1vlK

Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow
P.O. Box 65722
Washington, DC 20035

Phone: (202) 429-2737

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