Greenpeace Finds 'Kingpin of Climate Denial'

A little-known private US oil company called Koch Industries has become the driving force behind the climate change denial industry, according to an investigative report from Greenpeace (full pdf here). Koch funneled $25 million into groups opposed to climate change from 2005 to 2008—three times as much as big name operations like ExxonMobil. It spent another $5.7 million on political campaigns, and $37 million directly lobbying lawmakers.

“Koch Industries is playing a quiet but dominant role in the global warming debate,” the report says, dubbing it a “financial kingpin of climate science denial.” It accuses Koch of paying for both “misleading” science and “propaganda,” including funding for organizations that propagated the “Climategate” scandal. In Koch’s response, which you can read here, the company says it supports scientific debate, with the “open and honest airing of all sides, not demonizing and silencing those with whom you disagree.” (More Koch Industries stories.)