Globalisation:International Policy Network: Funding and connections
Funding IPN state “it is supported entirely by charitable donations from individuals, foundations and businesses. It receives no money from any government or political parties, and it does no contract work.” They also state that they abide by a strict “code of independence ” which ensures that they are not influenced by any external bodies. However the following evidence opens a debate on the previous statement. [1] IPN receives mass sums of money every year from industries that have major interests in the outcomes of the organisations research. It has been stated and argued that IPN received funding from the likes of Pfizer (the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, who may be interested in the outcomes of IPN’s research into health) and other large industrial companies such as big tobacco (again who may be interested in outcomes of IPN’s research into health) This has lead to much criticism from parties such as the media and politicians. For example, Norman Baker MP said: "We may be able to deduce from the comments of Julian Morris that there is an ulterior motive behind his denial of climate change." [2] This statement does have evidence to support it, and will be shown through the main example of who funds IPN –ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest and most profitable oil and gas organisations.
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil state that they support research that promotes discussions on issues that are directly relevant to the organisation, in 2005 they made world wide contributions of $6.4million for public information and funding, $139,000 of that sum was contributed towards IPN for research on climate change. [3]This is one of the highest amounts of funding from Exxon Mobil, compared to$50,000 in 2003, [4] $115,000 in 2004b[5] and $95,000 in 2006. [6] However, these numbers are nothing compared to what has been funded by Exxon since 1998, over the last twelve years Exxon have spent between the region of seventeen and twenty three million dollars bankrolling organizations that oppose the theory of climate change. The large sum of investment does not just lie at IPN.
ExxonMobil has been funding many of the efforts designed to cast doubt on the overwhelming evidence linking human activities and global warming. Greenpeace has identified about 40 ExxonMobil-funded organizations that either have sought to undermine mainstream scientific findings on global warming or have affiliated with a small group of climate "naysayers" who continue to do so. [7]
This could be seen through Exxon’s investment of $1,126,200 in 2006 in a research project by American Legislative Exchange Council which drew the conclusion, "The science of climate change is unsettled" and the "question is how much, if any, of this warming is caused by human activities. [8]
Notes
- ↑ About IPN,[1]IPN 21 date acsessed 21/10/2010
- ↑ Norman Baker MP,”[2]” Climate Change And The Environment 5/2/2005, date acsessed 23/11/2010
- ↑ ExxonMobil, “Exxon Mobil Corporation 2004 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments Public Information and Policy Research ”, pdf at page 5, accessed 13.11.10
- ↑ ExxonMobil, “Exxon Mobil Corporation 200 3 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments Public Information and Policy Research ”, , accessed 13.11.10
- ↑ ExxonMobil, “Exxon Mobil Corporation 200 4 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments Public Information and Policy Research ”, , accessed 13.11.10
- ↑ ExxonMobil, “Exxon Mobil Corporation 2006 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments Public Information and Policy Research ”, , accessed 13.11.10
- ↑ Lee Russ, “Who makes up (& funds) the "opposition" to global warming?” World Readable, 04.07.06. accessed 17.11.10.
- ↑ Exxpose Exxon, “Global Warming Deniers and ExxonMobil” accessed 17.11.10.
