Global Warming Doubt Linked to Tobacco Industry

While at a conference in San Francisco this week, I happened across an interesting PBS story on Product Defense which directly links the tobacco industry to the claim that global warming isn’t happening.  Firms specializing in product defense create “grass root coalitions” that cast doubt on scientific research when it directly affects a product’s bottom line revenues. 

An example of spinning science for the purpose of confusing the public while benefiting Big Business is on the health hazards of second-hand smoke.  In 1993 Philip Morris set up a coalition that cast doubt on studies showing that second-hand tobacco smoke is dangerous for health.  According to the BBC, Philip Morris decided to “link the tobacco issues with other more politically correct products’ and the campaign on issues like global warming”. 

The result was the Advancement of Sound Science Coalition, which was “one of the first organizations to throw a smokescreen over global warming.” Watch it. 

And surprise surprise, Exxon Mobil contributes money to this coalition as well.  Glad to know their record-breaking quarterly profits ($10.5 B) are going to such a good cause. 

By
Erin Swanson
Eswanson@enviance.com