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George C. Marshall Institute

George C. Marshall Institute (GMI) — Now CO2 Coalition

Background

The George C. Marshall Institute (GMI) was founded in 1984 by William Nierenberg, Frederick Seitz and Robert Jastrow as a “nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation to conduct technical assessments of scientific issues with an impact on public policy.”1”About The Marshall Institute,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/HAjMd

The Marshall Institute shut down in September of 2015, transferring its defense research to Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, in October.2(Press Release). “CSIS Announces Marshall Program on Science and National Security,” George C. Marshall Institute, October 28, 2015. Archived February 26, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/H5fo1 According to E&E News, the rest of the George C. Marshall Institute “morphed into a nonprofit called the CO2 Coalition in August.” The CO2 Coalition appears responsible for continuing the Marshall Institute’s climate change research.3Gayathri Vaidyanathan. “ADVOCACY:Think tank that cast doubt on climate change science morphs into smaller one,” ClimateWire, December 10, 2015. Accessed at E&E Publishing. Archived February 26, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6faqJBtXR

In 1989, at the same time the George C. Marshall Institute initiated its “Climate Change Policy Program,” the GMI released a report arguing that “cyclical variations in the intensity of the sun would offset any climate change associated with elevated greenhouse gases.” Although it was refuted by the IPCC, the report was used by the Bush Sr. Administration to argue for a more lenient climate change policy.4S. George Philander (editor). Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change, Page 621. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

The George C. Marshall Institute’s “Climate Change Policy” program started in 1989 as a “critical examination of the scientific basis for global climate change policy.” According to the Marshall Institute, a major part of the program was “communicating the findings to policy makers, the media and the public policy community.”5“Climate Change Policy,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived February 4, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/QFxN6

In a 2009 essay, former Executive Director Matthew B. Crawford had this to say about his initial experience with the Marshall Institute (emphasis added):

“… certain perversities became apparent as I settled into the job. It sometimes required me to reason backward, from desired conclusion to suitable premise. The organization had taken certain positions, and there were some facts it was more fond of than others. As its figurehead, I was making arguments I didn’t fully buy myself. Further, my boss seemed intent on retraining me according to a certain cognitive style — that of the corporate world, from which he had recently come. This style demanded that I project an image of rationality but not indulge too much in actual reasoning.”6Matthew B. Crawford, “The Case for Working With Your Hands,” New York Times, May 21, 2009. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ktwge

Newsweek has described the George C. Marshall Institute as a “central cog in the denial machine,” and Naomi Oreskes has said that the Institute has lobbied politically to create a false perception of scientific uncertainty over the negative effects of second-hand smoke, the carcinogenic nature of tobacco smoking, the existence of acid rain, and on the evidence between CFCs and ozone depletion.7“The Truth About Denial,” Newsweek, August 12, 2007. Republished by The Daily Beast. Archived January 6, 2013. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/NePHF 8“The American Denial of Global Warming,” YouTube Video uploaded by user “University of California Television (UCTV)” (starting at 30:30 minutes into speech). Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Marshall Institute Shuts Down

The Marshall Institute shut down in September, 2015. William Happer told E&E News that funding from fossil fuel companies to the Marshall Institute had been cut down in recent years:9Gayathri Vaidyanathan. “ADVOCACY:Think tank that cast doubt on climate change science morphs into smaller one,” ClimateWire, December 10, 2015. Accessed at E&E Publishing. Archived February 26, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6faqJBtXR

“You can forget about asking money from Exxon; they send all their money to Stanford [University] or to Princeton [University] for greenwashing,” Happer said.10Gayathri Vaidyanathan. “ADVOCACY:Think tank that cast doubt on climate change science morphs into smaller one,” ClimateWire, December 10, 2015. Accessed at E&E Publishing. Archived February 26, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6faqJBtXR

Happer also said that CSIS did not want to touch the Marshall Institute’s work on climate change:

“When we made the transfer to CSIS, there was a press release saying that only the defense work will be transferred; CSIS will not continue the climate work,” he said. “We know that’ll make it easier for them to get money.

“We kept the hardest part of the problem – the climate problem,” he said.11Gayathri Vaidyanathan. “ADVOCACY:Think tank that cast doubt on climate change science morphs into smaller one,” ClimateWire, December 10, 2015. Accessed at E&E Publishing. Archived February 26, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6faqJBtXR

Stance on Climate Change

“There remains considerable uncertainty as to how much the climate has varied regionally and globally on the decades-to-centuries timescale, or what caused those changes. Yet we need to know how natural climate fluctuations are caused in order to determine to what extent human activities have affected the climate system.”12“Climate Change Science,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived August 3, 2011. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Sr8K8

“Human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels to power our homes and businesses and changes to the land caused by the rise of modern cities and expanded agriculture, undoubtedly affect the global environment. It is the extent of that effect and how it relates to changes in the modern climate which is the subject of current scientific debate. […] Many of the temperature data and computer models used to predict climate change are themselves as uncertain as are our understanding of important interactions in the natural climate.”13“About: Climate Change,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ldscz

Funding

Initially, the George Marshall Institute (GMI) had restricted its funding sources to private foundations and individual donors to avoid conflict of interest but in the late nineties, the Institute decided that “the limitation we had placed on our sources of funding no longer made sense,” and that “From now on the Marshall Institute will accept grants for general program support from corporate foundations and in some cases directly from corporations.” Its first-ever corporate donation was from the Exxon Education Foundation.14“A Note on Funding,” The George C. Marshall Institute. Archived September, 2002. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/K3Xen

The following is based on data the Conservative Transparency project collected from publicly available 990 forms. Note that not all individual funding values have been verified be DeSmog for accuracy.15“George C. Marshall Institute,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed April 13, 2016.

View the attached spreadsheet for more details on the George C. Marshall Institute’s funding by year (.xlsx).

DonorTotal
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation$4,305,303
Sarah Scaife Foundation$4,290,000
The Carthage Foundation$582,500
ExxonMobil Foundation$570,000
Earhart Foundation$545,000
Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation$420,000
John M. Olin Foundation$350,000
ExxonMobil Corporation$260,000
Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation$200,000
Searle Freedom Trust$80,000
Dunn’s Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking$65,000
Allegheny Foundation$50,000
Chase Foundation of Virginia$15,550
John William Pope Foundation$1,000
Grand Total$11,734,353

Additional data is also available at the archived Media Transparency Database, as of January, 2012.16“George C. Marshall Institute,” Media Matters Action Network. Accessed January, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Eh5tp

ExxonMobil Funding

According to Greenpeace’s ExxonSecrets project, the George C. Marshall received at least $865,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.17ExxonSecrets Factsheet: George C. Marshall Institute, GMI. Archived November 21, 2015. August, 2015.

Koch Funding

In 2015, the George C. Marshall Institute transformed into the CO2 Coalition. Greenpeace notes that, including funding from the CO2 coalition, GMI has received at least $662,409 from Koch foundations between 1997 and 2017.18“George C. Marshall Institute (disbanded – now the CO2 Coalition): Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” Greenpeace USA. Archived June 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/MTUjW

The below table, based on 990 forms, shows the George C. Marshall Institut’es funding before it became the CO2 Coalition:

Donor
YearClaude R. Lambe Charitable FoundationCharles G. Koch Charitable FoundationGrand Total
2004$30,000 $30,000
2006$70,000 $70,000
2007$70,000 $70,000
2008$70,000 $70,000
2009$70,000 $70,000
2011$40,000 $40,000
2012$70,000 $70,000
2013 $75,000$75,000
2015 $125,000$125,000
Grand Total$420,000$200,000$620,000

990 Forms

“Global Climate Change” Program

Based on publicly available 990 forms (see above), the George C. Marshall Institute spent a total of $$2,208,050 on their “Global Climate Change Program” from 2005 to 2014.

The program description reads that it “Involves a critical examination of global climate change policy through communicating the findings to policy makers, the media, and the public community.”19“George C. Marshall Institute,” Economic Research Institute. Archived May 24, 2016.

YearAssets“Global Climate Change” Program Expenses
2014$820,494$447,521
2013$980,010$103,279
2012$1,219,208$78,882
2011$252,800$87,149
2010$156,061$136,983
2009$94,704$224,568
2008$265,138$218,970
2007$112,449$205,156
2006$58,506$308,819
2005$45,803$396,723
Total $2,208,050

Key People

Staff & Fellows (2015)

As of August 2015, the George C. Marshall Institute listed the following staff members and Fellows on their website:20“Staff & Fellows,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/fxaN1

  • John Sheldon — Executive Director, and Fellow since 2008
  • Mark Herlong — Program Director
  • Travis Cottom — Program Associate for Defense and Space Policy
  • Karen Montague — Research Associate
  • Daniel Gallington — Fellow. Senior Policy & Program Advisor.
  • Rebeccah L. Heinrichs — Fellow
  • Eric P. Loewen – Fellow
  • Peter Marquez — Fellow
  • Eric Sterner — Fellow

Board Members (2015)

As of August 2015, the George C. Marshall Institute listed the following Board Members on their website: 21“Board Members,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/jDCXl

Staff (2012)

As of February 2012, George C. Marshall Institute staff included the following:22“Staff,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived February 21, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/PA7kj

  • Jeff Kueter — President.
  • Mark Herlong — Program Director.
  • James Fifield — Missouri State Defense and Strategic Studies Intern.
  • Jerry Yue Liu — Koch Summer Fellow.
  • Allyn Milojevich — Koch Summer Fellow.

Board of Directors (2012)

As of January 2012, George C. Marshall Institute’s Board of Directors included the following:23“Board of Directors,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived January, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GW6ap

  • William O’Keefe — CEO (GMI
  • Robert Butterworth — President, Aries Analytics, Inc.
  • Gregory Canavan — Scientific Advisor, Physics Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory.
  • William Happer — Chairman of the Board of Directors (GMI).
  • Mark Mills — Chairman and CTO of ICx Technologies.
  • John H. Moore — President Emeritus, Grove City College.
  • Rodney W. Nichols — Consultant on Science and Technology Policy.
  • Milan (Mitch) Nikolich — Executive Associate of CACI.
  • Roy Spencer — Principal Research Scientist, University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Marshall Institute Fellows (2012)

As of February 2012, George C. Marshall Institute’s Fellows included the following:24“Marshall Institute Fellows,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived February 21, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/gBfJX

  • Daniel Gallington — Senior Policy & Program Advisor.
  • Eric Loewen
  • Peter Marquez
  • John Sheldon
  • Eric Sterner

Roundtable Speakers (2012)

As of February 2012, George C. Marshall Institute’s Roundtable Speakers included the following:25“Roundtable Speakers,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived February, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GFiuX

  • Andrew Aldrin
  • Bruce N. Ames
  • Steven P. Anderson
  • Major General James Armor (Ret. USAF)
  • Lt. Gen. Brian Arnold (ret.) — Vice President, Space Strategy, Raytheon.
  • Charles S. Baker
  • Sallie Baliunas — Also past “Senior Scientist” at George C. Marshall Institute26“Big-Budget Hollywood Movie Is a Science Travesty,” Heartland Institute, August 1, 2004. Archived August 16, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/inQGZ
  • Timothy Ball
  • Robert Balling
  • Roger Bate — Visiting Fellow, AEI
  • Richard Belzer — President, Regulatory Checkbook.
  • Michael Booen — Vice President, Advanced Missile Defense Systems, Raytheon.
  • Peter Bradford — Director, Anvil Mining Ltd.
  • Steven Bucci — Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Homeland Defense and America’s Security Affairs.
  • Richard Buenneke — Senior Policy Analyst, Aerospace Corporation.
  • Joe Burns — Managing Director, Flight Standards and Technology.
  • Lt. Gen. John Campbell, USAF (ret.) — Executive VP for Government Affairs, Iridium Satellite LLC.
  • Gregory Canavan
  • Michael E. Canes — Senior Research Fellow, Logistics Management Institute.
  • Joe Cassady
  • Tommy Brazie
  • David Cavossa — Executive Director, Satellite Industry Association.
  • Dean Cheng — CNA Corporation.
  • John R. Christy
  • Thomas L. Clancy, Jr.
  • Angelo M. Codevilla — Research Director, Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies.
  • Bernard Cohen
  • Roger Cohen
  • Keith Cole — (Lobbyist), Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, General Motors Company.
  • Douglas A. Comstock
  • Henry Cooper — Chairman, High Frontier.
  • Randall Correll — National Security Consultant, Science Applications International.
  • Andrew R. D’Uva — President, Providence Access Company.
  • Richard DalBello — Vice President, Government Relations, IntelSat General Corporation
  • Dorothy E. Denning
  • Uyen Dinh — Senior Director for Legislative Affairs, GeoEye, Inc.
  • LTG Larry Dodgen (ret.) — Vice President and Deputy General Manager of Missions’ Systems Missile Defense, Northrop Grumman.
  • Everett Dolman
  • Jürgen Drescher
  • Susan Dudley
  • Brian Duffy
  • Lt. General Michael Dunn (ret.) — President and CEO, Air Force Association.
  • John Foster
  • Oliver W. Frauenfeld — Research Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Research.
  • Robert Gallo
  • Lori Garver — Vice President, DFI International.
  • Richard Garwin
  • Phil Gingrey
  • David Goodstein
  • Michael Gough
  • Daniel Gouré — Vice President, Lexington Institute.
  • David Graham — Institute for Defense Analyses.
  • William Graham — Former Chairman of General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament.
  • George Gray — Executive Director, Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.
  • William M. Gray
  • Kurt Hackmeier — Corporate Director, Air Force Space Programs, Northrop Grumman.
  • Hal Hagemeier — National Security Space Office, Department of Defense.
  • R. Cargill Hall
  • Robert Hart
  • Glenn Haskins — ALHTK Program Manager, Lockheed Martin.
  • Ronald Hatch — Dirctor of Navigation Systems, NavCom Technology.
  • Steven Hayward — F. K. Weyerhaeuser Fellow, American Enterprise Institute.
  • John G. Heidenrich — Senior National Security Analyst, Science Applications International Corporation.
  • David Henderson
  • Rear Admiral Alan B. Hicks — Commander & Program Director, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense.
  • Steve Hill — President, Global Analytics, Inc.
  • Theresa Hitchens — Director, Center for Defense Information, World Security Institute.
  • Kenneth Hodgkins
  • Martin Hoffert
  • Peter Huber — Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.
  • Peter Huessy — President, GeoStrategic Analysis.
  • Tim Hughes — Vice President and Chief Counsel, SpaceX.
  • Daniel Hurley — Director, Critical Infrastructure Protection, U.S. Department of Commerce.
  • Col. Kirk Hymes — Director, Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate.
  • Greg Hyslop — Vice President and General Manager of Missile Defense Systems, Boeing Company.
  • Gerry Jansson — Director, Space Segment Development, INTELSAT General.
  • Dana Johnson — NorthropGrumman Analysis Center.
  • Robert Joseph — Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
  • David Kay
  • T. S. Kelso
  • Chris Kemp
  • Adam Kieper — Managing Editor, The New Atlantis.
  • David Kier — Vice President, Lockheed Martin Corporation.
  • Larry Kumins — Vice President for Research and Analysis, EPRINC.
  • Marc Landy
  • Lee Lane — Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute.
  • Roger D. Launius
  • Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (ret.) — Former Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
  • David R. Legates
  • Laurie Leshin
  • James Lewis — Center for Strategic and International Studies.
  • Richard Lindzen
  • Eric Loewen — George C. Marshall Institute Fellow.
  • Anthony R. Lupo
  • Lt. Col. Robert Luzzi — Pentagon staff officer.
  • Gen. Lester Lyles (ret.) — Former Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Department of Defense.
  • Andrea Maleter — Futron Corporation.
  • John C. Mankins — COO, Managed Energy Technologies; President of the Space Power Association.
  • Jeffrey Marsh
  • Gen. Robert T. Marsh (ret.) — Chairman, CAE Electronics, Inc.
  • Stephen McIntyre
  • Ross McKitrick
  • Col. Robert McMurry — Commander of the Airborne Laser Program Office, Kirtland AFB
  • Philip A. Meek — Associate General Counsel, Office of the Air Force General Council.
  • Patrick J. Michaels — Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies, Cato Institute.
  • Henry I. Miller — Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
  • David Montgomery — Vice President, Charles River Associates.
  • Ed Morris — Executive Director, Office of Space Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce.
  • Karl P. Mueller — Political scientist, RAND Corporation.
  • James Muncy
  • Edward H. Murphy — Energy and economic consultant.
  • Stewart Nozette
  • James O’Brien
  • Wayne L. O’Hern, Jr. — Technology Strategies and Alliances, Inc.
  • James Oberg
  • Lt. General Henry Obering III — Director, Missile Defense Agency.
  • Scott Pace
  • William C. Patrick, III — Former Chief of Product Development Division, Agent Development and Engineering Directorate, Ft. Detrick.
  • Aristides Patrinos — President of Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
  • Gary Payton — Deputy for Advanced Systems, Missile Defense Agency.
  • Robert Pfaltzgraff — President, Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis.
  • Roger A. Pielke, Sr.
  • Steve Pierce — Director, Decision Support Directorate, SMD Future Warfare Center.
  • Norman Podhoretz — Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute.
  • Robert Pollack
  • Eric S. Posmentier
  • Terry Pudas — Acting Director, Office of Force Transformation.
  • John W. “Jay” Raymond — B.G.
  • Robert Reese — Space Policy Analyst, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
  • Fred M. Reiff
  • Richard E. Rowberg — Associate Executive Director for Communications, Division of Engineering and Physical Sciences, National Research Council, National Academies.
  • Charles T. Rubin
  • Harvey Rubin — Director for the Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis and Response.
  • Sally Satel — Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute.
  • James Schlesinger — Former Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Energy and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
  • Frederick Seitz
  • Willie Soon — “Senior Scientist” (PDF)27Soon, Willie et al. (2001). Global Warming: A Guide to the Science (PDF). Fraser Institute. p. viii.
  • Roy Spencer
  • H. Baker Spring — Senior Defense Policy Analyst, Heritage Foundation.
  • Prasanna Srinivasan
  • George H. Taylor
  • Margo Thorning — Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, American Council for Capital Formation.
  • Richard Van Atta — Senior Research Analyst at the Institute for Defense Analyses.
  • John Vilja
  • Robert Walker — Chairman, Wexler-Walker Public Policy Associates.
  • Edward J. Wall
  • Michah Walter-Range — Research Analyst, Space Foundation.
  • Fred Webber — President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
  • Jim Williams — Manager, Government and Military Accounts.
  • Lowell Wood
  • Brigadier General Simon P. Worden (Ret.) — Policy Analyst.
  • Larry Wortzel — Policy Analyst.

Actions

June 13, 2016

Peabody Energy’s 2016 bankruptcy documents revealed the George C. Marshall Institute as a creditor, reports the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch).28Nick Surgey. “Peabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding,” PRWatch, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/a73wj

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.29“In 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 Soon, Richard Lindzen, Roy Spencer and Richard Berman. The long list of organizations also includes groups such as Americans for Prosperity, American Legislative Exchange Council, CFACT, Institute for Energy Research, State Policy Network, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens more.30Farron 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:31Suzanne 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 URL: https://archive.ph/pw7On

“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:

June, 2016

The George C. Marshall Institute was among organizations named in a Massachusetts subpoena looking for communications between ExxonMobil and organizations denying climate change, reports The Washington Times.32Valerie Richardson. “Exxon fights Mass. AG’s ‘political’ probe into climate change dissent,” The Washington Times, June 15, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GepbJ

Organizations named in the Massachusetts subpoena include the following:

This latest inquiry by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is one in a series of investigations into what ExxonMobil knew about climate change and when, started by a coalition of attorneys general in the US.33Ben Jervey. “State Investigations Into What Exxon Knew Double, and Exxon Gets Defensive,” Desmog, April 1, 2016.

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:34“CLIMATE CHANGE” (PDF), Statement of William Happer Before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, February 25, 2009. Republished by the George C. Marshall Institute. Archived July 6, 2010.

“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.”

July 7–9, 2014

The George C. Marshall Institute is listed as an official Cosponsor of the Heartland Institute’s Ninth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC7) in Las Vegas, Nevada.35“ICCC9 CoSponsors,” International Conferences on Climate Change (The Heartland Institute). Archived July 27, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/gclHF

July 2014

In a live interview on CNBC, William Happer, chairman of the Marshall Institute, stated that the “demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler.”

Co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin challenged Happer for “not believ[ing] in climate change,” to which Happer responded by telling Sorkin to “shut up.” Media Matters also points out that Happer has “no peer-reviewed research on climate change.”36Shauna Theel. ”CNBC’s Climate ‘Expert’: ‘Demonization Of Carbon Dioxide Is Just Like “Demonization Of Jews Under Hitler’,” Media Matters, July 15, 2014. Archived August 16, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/VIf2Z 37Kevin Grandia. “CNBC Again? Marshall Institute Chairman Brings Hitler Into Climate Conversation,” DeSmog, July 15, 2014. 38“Exxon-Funded Physicist William Happer Fulfills Godwin’s Law,” Media Matters for America, July 15, 2014. Archived August 16, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/VIf2Z

View the video below:

May 8, 2013

The Wall Street Journal published an opinion peace by Harrison H. Schmitt and the George C. Marshall Institute’s William Happer titled “In Defense of Carbon Dioxide,” in which the authors said: “[T]he conventional wisdom about carbon dioxide is that it is a dangerous pollutant. That’s simply not the case. Contrary to what some would have us believe, increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will benefit the increasing population on the planet by increasing agricultural productivity.”39Harrison H. Schmitt and William Happer. “In Defense of Carbon Dioxide,” Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2013. Archived August 16, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Bfw13

May 21–23, 2012

The George C. Marshall Institute is listed as an official co-sponsor (PDF) of the Heartland Institute’s Seventh International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC7).40“Seventh International Conference on Climate Change: Sponsored by the Heartland Instate” (PDF), The Heartland Institute. Archived August 15, 2015.

November 2011

The George C. Marshall Institute released a study that concluded “Global warming is unlikely to damage U.S. national security, but expensive programs implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will weaken the nation’s economy and military,” as reported by The Heartland Institute.41D. Brady Nelson. “Study: Global Warming Not a National Security Threat,” The Heartland Institute, November 24, 2011. Archived August 16, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/euaft

According to Marshall Institute CEO William O-Keefe, even if global warming occurs, “The impacts of weather events or climate change in the developing world are not caused by developed world carbon emissions. They are caused primarily by extreme poverty which is the result of exploitation by dictators, and the lack of economic and personal freedom, the rule of law, property rights, and access to commercial energy. Solving the problem of poverty in these countries would provide them the capacity and resilience to deal with whatever climate exists in the future.”

June 30–July 1, 2011

The George C. Marshall Institute was an official Cosponsor (PDF) of the Heartland Institute‘s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC6) in Washington, DC.42Sixth International Conference on Climate Change Conference Program (PDF), The Heartland Institute. Archived July 25, 2015.

DeSmogBlog concluded that 17 of the 43 sponsors of the Heartland Institute’s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change, including the Heartland Institute itself, had collectively received over $46 million from either Scaife Foundations, Koch Foundations, or ExxonMobil.43Brendan DeMelle. “Denial-a-Palooza 6: Heartland’s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change, Courtesy of Koch, Scaife & Exxon,” DeSmog, June 30, 2011.

May 20, 2010

Will Happer, as chair of the George C. Marshall Institute, testified before Rep. Ed Markey’s Select committee as the sole GOP witness arguing against the global warming consensus.44Morgan Goodwin. “Will Happer To Testify At Congressional Hearing on Climate Science,” DeSmog, May 18, 2010.

The hearing reported to “explore scientists’ ability to present data and information that can guide global warming solutions in a sometimes fierce political landscape.”45“Next Hearing 5/20: Climate Science in the Political Arena: Select Committee hearing to examine attacks against climate scientists” (Press Release), The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Archived February 4, 2011. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/xyNwj

May 16–18, 2010

The George C. Marshall Institute was an official Cosponsor (PDF) of the Heartland Institute‘s Fourth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC4) in Chicago, IL. The conference’s theme was “Reconsidering the Science and Economics,” and its purpose was “the same as it was for the first three events: to build momentum and public awareness of the global warming ‘realism’ movement.”464th International Conference on Climate Change Conference Program (PDF), The Heartland Institute.

DeSmog concluded 19 of the 65 sponsors (including Heartland itself) had received a total of over $40 million in funding since 1985 from ExxonMobil (who funded 13 of the organizations), and/or Koch Industries family foundations (funded 10 organizations) and/or the Scaife family foundations (funded 10 organizations).47Brendan DeMelle. “Denial-a-palooza Round 4: ‘International Conference on Climate Change’ Groups Funded by Exxon, Koch Industries,” DeSmog, May 13, 2010.

June 2, 2009

The George C. Marshall Institute was an official Cosponsor of the Heartland Institute’s Third International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC3) in Washington, DC.48“Co-Sponsors,” Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14, 2010. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/7M3LQ

The conference’s theme was “Climate Change: Scientific Debate and Economic Analysis,” to reflect Heartland’s belief that that “scientific debate is not over.” The conference set out to “call attention to widespread dissent to the asserted ‘consensus’ on various aspects of climate change and global warming.”49Robyn Monaghan. “Global warming skeptics gather in D.C.,” examiner.com, May 4, 2009. Archived January 7, 2014. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/WdxK2

March 8–10, 2009

The George C. Marshall Institute was an official co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute‘s Second International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC2) in New York.50“Co-Sponsors,” The 2009 International Conference on Climate Change. Archived April 28, 2011. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8pEf7

DeSmog researched the funding behind Heartland’s Second International Conference on Climate Change and found that 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.51“Heartland Institute’s 2009 Climate Conference in New York: funding history of the sponsors,” DeSmog.

February 25, 2009

George C. Marshall Institute Chair William Happer testified on climate change (PDF) before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

In his opening statement, Happer admits “I am not a climatologist, but I don’t think any of the other witnesses are either.” He then goes on to state that “I believe that the increase of CO2 is not a cause for alarm and will be good for mankind,” comparing policies designed to reduce emissions to the U.S. prohibition of alcohol.

Happer uses other common skeptic arguments, saying that “The current warming also seems to be due mostly to natural causes, not to increasing levels of carbon dioxide,” that “The climate has changed many times in the past,” that “IPCC summaries for policy makers are not dispassionate statements of the facts of climate change,” that “There is a delay between a temperature increase and a CO2 increase of about 800 years,” and, finally, “that moderate warming is an overall benefit to mankind because of higher agricultural yields and many other reasons.”52“CLIMATE CHANGE” (PDF), Statement of William Happer Before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, February 25, 2009. Republished by the George C. Marshall Institute. Archived July 6, 2010.

March 2–4, 2008

The George C. Marshall Institute was an official Cosponsor of the Heartland Institute‘s First International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC1). The Conference was titled “Global Warming: Truth or Swindle.”53“Sponsorships,” The 2008 International Conference on climate Change. Archived June 10, 2011. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/bxDic

May 2006

As reported at PolluterWatch, an anonymous source sent Greenpeace a copy of an invitation, agenda and attendees list (PDF) for a May 2006 meeting organized by the Heartland Institute and hosted at the DCI Group offices “to discuss public policy challenges related to the Clean Air Act.” The George C. Marshall Institute was one of the organizations invited to the session.54“Strategic Discussion Regarding the Clean Air Act” (PDF), The Heartland Institute, May 25, 2006. 55Connor Gibson. “Science Denial and Andrea Saul — Romney 2012 Campaign Spokesperson,” PolluterWatch, August 6, 2012. Archived August 16, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2QDQ7

The only corporation represented at the meeting was Exxon Mobil. Exxon representatives gave two presentations over the course of the full day meeting. Six ExxonMobil staff are listed as invited guests. Two DCI – Tech Central Station representatives are named on the invitees list, along with a note “plus DCI field officers and staff.”

December 14, 2005

The Marshall Institute published the book Shattered Consensus: The True State of Global Warming, edited by climate change skeptic Patrick J. Michaels.

The book contains essays by skeptics Sallie L. Baliunas, Robert C. Balling Jr., Randall S. Cerveny, John Christy, Robert E. Davis, Oliver W. Frauenfeld, Ross McKitrick, Patrick J. Michaels, Eric S. Posmentier, and Willie Soon.56“Shattered Consensus: The True State of Global Warming,” The George C. Marshall Institute, December 14, 2005. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/UcCHd

December 12, 2004

The George C. Marshall Institute sponsored a forum at the National Press Club titled “Uses and Misuses of Science in Regulating Chemicals: Unintended Consequences for the Developing World.”57“Science Debunks Precautionary Principle,” Heartland Institute, February 1,2004. Archived August 16, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/TTTCR

According to the Heartland Institute, the forum “reviewed application of the precautionary principle to new biotechnology products, old restrictions on DDT, and new restrictions on a tried and true herbicide, paraquat.”

November 16, 2004

The GMI issued a press release regarding the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) by the eight-nation Arctic Council.

GMI said that “This report makes numerous claims about climate change on arctic regions. Most of its claims are based on invalidated climate models and scenarios developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that bear little resemblance to reality and how the future is likely to evolve. And indeed, some of its claims about sea ice and ‘alarming’ warming are contradicted by other peer reviewed research and data.”58(Press Release). “INHOFE QUESTIONS SCIENCE BEHIND ARCTIC REPORT,” U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, November 16, 2004. Archived February 2, 2011. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/mFc4i

April 12, 2004

The Marshall Institute sponsored a “Washington Roundtable on Science and Public Policy” where climate change skeptic David Legates presented on the subject of “Global Warming and the Hydrological Cycle “(PDF).

Legates suggested that climate change would be unlikely to increase extreme weather conditions, saying “… in many cases, the argument might be that in a warmer world, we will see fewer, not more, extreme events. This is actually good news, because it is extremes that cause the most economic damage and cause the most deaths.”59David Legates. “Global Warming and the Hydrologic Cycle: How are the Occurrence of Floods, Droughts, and Storms Likely to Change?” (PDF), George C. Marshall Institute’s Washington Roundtable on Science & Public Policy, April 14, 2004. Archived August 8, 2011.

November 1998

A number of experts affiliated with the George C. Marshall Institute presented in a video funded by the Western Fuels Association titled “The Greening of Planet Earth Continues.”60“The Greening of Planet Earth Continues,” Co2 Science. Accessed April 13, 2016. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. 61“The Greening of Planet Earth Continues…” (PDF). Clearinghouse on Environmental Advocacy and Research (CLEAR). PDF archived at DeSmog.

In the video, “expert scientists assert that CO2 is not a pollutant, but a nutrient to life on earth.”

George Marshall experts featured in the film included Sallie Baliunas (GMI Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, Senior Scientist), John Christy (Global Warming Round Table Participant at GMI), and Richard Lindzen (Member, GMI Science Advisory Board).62“The Greening of Planet Earth Continues…” (PDF). Clearinghouse on Environmental Advocacy and Research (CLEAR). PDF archived at DeSmog.

1997

The George C. Marshal Institute co-published a document titled the “Oregon Petition” along with the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine. The petition claims to have collected 17,000 signatories that argue against the existence of man-made climate change and has been repeatedly used by climate change skeptics as proof that there is no scientific consensus on climate change.63(Press Release). “INHOFE QUESTIONS SCIENCE BEHIND ARCTIC REPORT“, U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/mmtZW 64(Press Release). “SEPP News Release: More Than 15,000 Scientists Protest Kyoto Accord; Speak Out Against Global Warming Myth,” Science and Environmental Policy Project, April 20, 1998. Archived February 8, 2009. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/rDV9M

As reported in the Huffington Post, along with the petition there was a cover letter from Dr. Fred Seitz, a prominent climate change denier (and tobacco scientist), who over 30 years ago was the president of the National Academy of Science. Also attached to the petition was what appeared to be a “research paper” titled: Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.65Kevin Grandia. “The 30,000 Global Warming Petition Is Easily-Debunked Propaganda,” Huffington Post, August 22, 2009. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/FzA4p

The petition and the documents included were all made to look like official papers from the prestigious National Academy of Science even though they were not affiliated with the production in any way.

The petition was so misleading that the National Academy issued a news release stating that “The petition project was a deliberate attempt to mislead scientists and to rally them in an attempt to undermine support for the Kyoto Protocol. The petition was not based on a review of the science of global climate change, nor were its signers experts in the field of climate science.”66Joe Brown. “700 Club anchor touted global warming skeptics’ petition reportedly signed by non-scientists, fictitious characters,” Media Matters for America. Archived August 15, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/xYeVc

The documents included with the petition had been authored by climate skeptics Art Robinson, Sallie Baliunas, and Willie Soon.

George C. Marshall Institute Contact & Location

The George C. Marshall Institute’s contact information was listed as follows:67“About the George C. Marshall Institute,” George C. Marshall Institute. Archived May 29, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/lqxjM

George C. Marshall Institute
1601 North Kent St.,
Suite 802
Arlington, VA 22209

Ph: 571.970.3180
E: [email protected]

CO2 Coalition

According to E&E News/ClimateWire, the Marshall Institute “morphed into a nonprofit called the CO2 Coalition in August.”68Gayathri Vaidyanathan. “ADVOCACY:Think tank that cast doubt on climate change science morphs into smaller one,” ClimateWire, December 10, 2015. Accessed at E&E Publishing. Archived February 26, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6faqJBtXR

SEPP

Several people of GMI are also involved in the Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP):

The now-defunct Environmental Literacy Council (ELC) was set up by GMI’s past executive director Jeffrey Salmon, and was run from offices next to the Institute.

GMI is also a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition.

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