Global Warming Policy Foundation

The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) was launched by Nigel Lawson on November 23rd 2009 in the House of Lords. The Foundation is an all-party and non-party think tank and a registered educational charity. The GWPF website states that:

Our main purpose is to bring reason, integrity and balance to a debate that has become seriously unbalanced, irrationally alarmist, and all too often depressingly intolerant.

The GWPF's primary purpose is to help restore balance and trust in the climate debate that is frequently distorted by prejudice and exaggeration

Our main focus is to analyse global warming policies and its economic and other implications. Our aim is to provide the most robust and reliable economic analysis and advice.

Background

At the launch of the GWPF Nigel Lawson told his audience that following the release of his book An Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warming he received great encouragement and support, in particular from scientists and engineers with experience in the field. He was urged to continue with his work and this led to him founding the think tank, which can do more than he could alone.

Funding

The GWPF website states that the foundation is "funded entirely by voluntary donations from a number of private individuals and charitable trusts. In order to make clear its complete independence, it does not accept gifts from either energy companies or anyone with a significant interest in an energy company."

Dr Benny Peiser, director, in an interview with The Guardian decined to give further detail on funding or funders due to the privacy of donors:

"They are all highly respected donors. But that's not our decision," he said, adding that he would need their permission to make them public. He said people could have confidence in the independence of the GWPF because donors are approved by the charity's board of trustees."