Friends of Science
| Type | Climate change skepticism |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Location | Calgary, Alberta |
| Focus | Canadian public policy |
| Website | http://www.friendsofscience.org |
Friends of Science (FoS) is a Canadian non-profit advocacy organization and based in Calgary, Alberta. FoS believes "the Sun is the main direct and indirect driver of climate change", rather than human activity; they also dispute the value of the Kyoto Protocol.[1] The society was founded in 2002 and launched its website in October of that year.[2][3]
Its advisors are Madhav Khandekar, Chris de Freitas, Tim Patterson and Sallie Baliunas. As of December, 2009, the president of Friends of Science is Douglas Leahey.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Position
Friends of Science publishes a list of "ten myths of climate change," each of which they disagree with:[5]:
Myth 1) Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate.
Myth 2) The "hockey stick" graph proves that the earth has experienced a steady, very gradual temperature decrease for 1000 years, then recently began a sudden increase.
Myth 3) Human produced carbon dioxide has increased over the last 100 years, adding to the greenhouse effect, thus warming the earth.
Myth 4) CO2 is the most common greenhouse gas.
Myth 5) Computer models verify that CO2 increases will cause significant global warming.
Myth 6) The UN proved that man–made CO2 causes global warming.
Myth 7) CO2 is a pollutant.
Myth 8) Global warming will cause more storms and other weather extremes.
Myth 9) Receding glaciers and the calving of ice shelves are proof of global warming.
Myth 10) The earth’s poles are warming; polar ice caps are breaking up and melting and the sea level rising
Friends of Science states that the satellite and balloon temperature records indicate no significant global warming has taken place over the last three decades.
Friends of Science states:[6]
- Accurate satellite, balloon and mountain top observations made over the last three decades have not shown any significant change in the long term rate of increase in global temperatures. Average ground station readings do show a mild warming of 0.6 to 0.8 C over the last 100 years, which is well within the natural variations recorded in the last millennium. The ground station network suffers from an uneven distribution across the globe; the stations are preferentially located in growing urban and industrial areas ("heat islands"), which show substantially higher readings than adjacent rural areas ("land use effects").
Friends of Science has produced a 23 minute on-line video[7] that contrasts the views of politicians and scientists on the question of climate change. The scientists on the video included consultant Tim Ball, Professor of Geology Tim Patterson of Carleton University, and Professor of Political Science Barry F. Cooper of the University of Calgary, all of whom are known for skepticism with regard to the mainstream scientific view on global warming.
[edit] Funding
Friends of Science says they are not funded by corporations.[8] Critics have asserted that the Friends of Science has close links to the oil and gas industry.[9] The Friends of Science say their "efforts to bring balance to the climate change debate are being restricted because of our lack of funding. We have mostly relied upon the good nature of our members, with some contributions from Charitable Foundations. There has also been some funding from “big oil”. But they seldom smile on us. They appear to believe that marketing is more important than historical climate information."[10]
Funds do not come directly from industry donors but are instead solicited for the Calgary Foundation, a charitable funds administrator which maintains a policy of not disclosing the identity of donors. The donations are then passed on to the Science Education Fund, an account at the University of Calgary set up by Prof. Barry Cooper. In the final step, the Science Education Fund uses those funds to support the activities of the Friends of Science.[11][12]
[edit] References
- ^ "Friends of Science". http://www.friendsofscience.org. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ Roe, Jon (2007-11-01). "Science, education, funds — A look into the Friends of Science connection to the University of Calgary". Gauntlet. http://thegauntlet.ca/story/11826. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ "Friends of Science". website Developed and maintained by MichellComputing, Calgary Canada. Archived from the original on 16 October 2002. http://web.archive.org/web/20021016082106/http://www.friendsofscience.org/. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ http://www.friendsofscience.org/index.php?id=3
- ^ "Myths/Facts: Common Misconceptions About Global Warming". http://www.friendsofscience.org/index.php?ide=4. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
- ^ "Climate Catastrophe Cancelled: What You're Not Being Told About the Science of Climate Change". http://www.friendsofscience.org/index.php?ide=3. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
- ^ http://www.friendsofscience.org/assets/files/documents/2010_March_Newsletter.pdf
- ^ "The Denial Machine - a CBC documentary about climate scepticism and funding". CBC News. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/denialmachine. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
- ^ Friends of Science Newsletter, April 2007
- ^ Charles Montgomery (2006-08-12). "Mr. Cool: Nurturing doubt about climate change is big business". Globe and Mail. http://www.charlesmontgomery.ca/mrcool.html. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
- ^ "Elections Canada to probe anti-Kyoto Protocol group", Victoria Times-Colonist, February 18, 2008, http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=3c955256-f327-465a-8135-778088f6131a.
