"Authors of Wall Street Journal Climate Piece Downplay Industry Ties"

"Half the authors of a controversial Wall Street Journal opinion piece denying the Earth's warming trend have ties to the oil and gas industry, a DailyClimate.org investigation finds."



"Half of the 16 scientists who penned a controversial Wall Street Journal opinion piece proclaiming there is "no need to panic" about global warming have ties to either the oil and gas industry or groups dedicated to debunking climate science, a DailyClimate.org investigation has found.

The article, criticized by climate scientists and environmental groups, says that the field of climate science is dominated by opportunists and that 'a large and growing number of distinguished scientists and engineers do not agree that drastic actions on global warming are needed.'

'Alarmism over climate is of great benefit to many,' the authors wrote.

The Journal noted that 16 scientists co-authored the article. But in listing their affiliations at the end of the piece, the paper didn't mention half of them have ties to groups and businesses that often cast doubts about man-made global warming.

One example: The Journal credits William Happer as a professor of physics at Princeton University. Unmentioned is his role on the board of the George C. Marshall Institute, a conservative Washington, D.C.-based think tank that assesses scientific issues impacting public policy. "

Amy Silverstein reports for The Daily Climate February 1, 2012.

Source: Daily Climate, 02/02/2012