Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change
Encyclopedia
The Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change (also known as CO2Science) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
based in Arizona
in the United States. Its stated purpose is to "disseminate factual reports and sound commentary on new developments in the world-wide scientific quest to determine the climatic and biological consequences of the ongoing rise in the air's CO2 content." The Center produces a weekly online science newsletter called CO2Science.
The Center was founded and is run by Craig D Idso, along with Sherwood B Idso, his father, and Keith E Idso, his brother. They came from backgrounds in agriculture
and climate, and became involved in the global warming controversy
through their study of earth's temperature sensitivity to radiative perturbations and plant responses to elevated CO2 levels and carbon sequestration. The Center is sharply critical of the position of the IPCC
and believes that global warming will be beneficial to mankind. In late 2009, Mother Jones
ranked the Center number 8 on its "Dirty Dozen of Climate Change Denial" list.
The Center also offers assistance in preparing the reports that U.S. corporations can file pursuant to the U.S. Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases program
of the Energy Policy Act of 1992
.
, USA Today, the Seattle Post Intelligencer,
Sherwood Idso confirmed that Exxon "made some donations to us a few times in the past" but attributed this to the fact that "they probably liked what we typically had to say about the issue. But what we had to say then, and what we have to say now, came not, and comes not, from them or any other organization or person."
ExxonMobil
's 2001 list of groups it funded listed a $10,000 contribution to the Center in 2001.
StopExxon.org reports the Center has received $90,000 from ExxonMobil between 1998 and 2005 comprising:
, and in 2003 another $50,000 for "General operating support"; but this information may conflict with the Center's 2003 "Grants and contributions".
entitled "Forecasting World Food Supplies: The Impact of the Rising Atmospheric CO2 Concentration," which we presented at the Second Annual Dixy Lee Ray
Memorial Symposium held in Washington, DC on 31 August - 2 September 1999." The Greening Earth Society
, a front group of the Western Fuels Association
.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
based in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in the United States. Its stated purpose is to "disseminate factual reports and sound commentary on new developments in the world-wide scientific quest to determine the climatic and biological consequences of the ongoing rise in the air's CO2 content." The Center produces a weekly online science newsletter called CO2Science.
The Center was founded and is run by Craig D Idso, along with Sherwood B Idso, his father, and Keith E Idso, his brother. They came from backgrounds in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and climate, and became involved in the global warming controversy
Global warming controversy
Global warming controversy refers to a variety of disputes, significantly more pronounced in the popular media than in the scientific literature, regarding the nature, causes, and consequences of global warming...
through their study of earth's temperature sensitivity to radiative perturbations and plant responses to elevated CO2 levels and carbon sequestration. The Center is sharply critical of the position of the IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body which provides comprehensive assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and...
and believes that global warming will be beneficial to mankind. In late 2009, Mother Jones
Mother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
ranked the Center number 8 on its "Dirty Dozen of Climate Change Denial" list.
The Center also offers assistance in preparing the reports that U.S. corporations can file pursuant to the U.S. Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases program
United States federal register of greenhouse gas emissions
The United States federal register of greenhouse gas emissions is established by the United States Department of Energy under the Energy Policy Act 1992...
of the Energy Policy Act of 1992
Energy Policy Act of 1992
The Energy Policy Act is a United States government act.It was passed by Congress and addressed energy efficiency, energy conservation and energy management , natural gas imports and exports , alternative fuels and requiring certain fleets to acquire alternative fuel vehicles, which are capable of...
.
Funding
The Center has a policy of not disclosing its funding sources because "ideas about the way the world of nature operates should stand or fall on their own merits, irrespective of the source of support for the person or organization that produces them." ExxonMobil corporate giving statements and IRS filings document $90,000 to the Center between 1998 and 2006.ExxonMobil's contributions have also been been reported by the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, USA Today, the Seattle Post Intelligencer,
Sherwood Idso confirmed that Exxon "made some donations to us a few times in the past" but attributed this to the fact that "they probably liked what we typically had to say about the issue. But what we had to say then, and what we have to say now, came not, and comes not, from them or any other organization or person."
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
's 2001 list of groups it funded listed a $10,000 contribution to the Center in 2001.
StopExxon.org reports the Center has received $90,000 from ExxonMobil between 1998 and 2005 comprising:
- 2008: 0?
- 2007: 0
- 2006: $10,000,
- 2005: $25,000
- 2003: $40,000
- 2000: $15,000
- 1998: $10,000
Funding from Sarah Scaife Foundation
According to MediaTransparency, in 1999 the Center received $50,000 from the Sarah Scaife FoundationSarah Scaife Foundation
The Sarah Scaife Foundation is one of the American Scaife Foundations. It is controlled by Richard Mellon Scaife. The foundation does not award grants to individuals. It concentrates its efforts towards causes focused on public policy at a national and international level...
, and in 2003 another $50,000 for "General operating support"; but this information may conflict with the Center's 2003 "Grants and contributions".
2006, Oil industry business: Cenospheres
Craig Idso incorporated Cenospheres.net Inc., serving the oilfield industry, in 2006.1999, Western Fuels Association
In October 1999 Craig D. Idso and Keith E. Idso mentioned that they had "recently completed a project commissioned by the Greening Earth SocietyGreening Earth Society
The Greening Earth Society, now defunct, was a public relations organization which promoted the idea that there is considerable scientific doubt about the effects of climate change and increased levels of carbon dioxide...
entitled "Forecasting World Food Supplies: The Impact of the Rising Atmospheric CO2 Concentration," which we presented at the Second Annual Dixy Lee Ray
Dixy Lee Ray
Dixy Lee Ray was the 17th Governor of the U.S. State of Washington. She was Washington's first female governor.-Early years:...
Memorial Symposium held in Washington, DC on 31 August - 2 September 1999." The Greening Earth Society
Greening Earth Society
The Greening Earth Society, now defunct, was a public relations organization which promoted the idea that there is considerable scientific doubt about the effects of climate change and increased levels of carbon dioxide...
, a front group of the Western Fuels Association
Western Fuels Association
The Western Fuels Association is a not-for profit cooperative that supplies coal and transportation services to consumer-owned electric utility in the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions...
.