What is the heartland institute?
According to Heartland's very own website, Heartland claims to be, "one of the world’s leading free-market think tanks. It is a national nonprofit research and education organization based in Arlington Heights, Illinois," designed to, "discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems."
Who is the Heartland Institute?
Heartland was founded in 1984 by David Padden. Padden has previously been the chair of the CATO institute, another self-proclaimed think-tank geared towards anti-environmental policies.
Later, Joseph Bast took over the company as the President and directs 37 other employees, however, only few receive payment for their services, and most work less than 40 hours per week at the Institute. He continues to serve as the Heartland head today. Craig D. Idso is one of the chief collaborators on the book, "Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming" written and distributed in 2016 to science teachers across America. Previously, Idso founded the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Exchange and serves as the Chairman of the Board on that organization. Idso is a known and frequent collaborator with the Heartland Institute on their climate change initiatives. S. Fred Singer is another expert that consults for Heartland and also contributed to the book "Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming" and other Heartland published works. He is a professor of Environmental Science at the University of Virginia. Robert M. Carter is the final analyst and contributor to Heartland's book, "Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming". Carter is a proclaimed environmental/ climate change skeptic and previously served as professor and head of the School of Earth of Earth Sciences at James Cook University. Carter is known for encouraging climate change denial in the public sphere and is a frequent consultant and analyst for the Heartland Institute on their climate change initiatives. Since 2012, 13 of Heartland's "experts" have left the academic and professional sphere and arguably can no longer be considered experts. How is the heartland institute running? |
According to the leaked 2012 Heartland documents, Heartland is able to pursue their goals and initiatives due to outside funding from donors and major corporations. One of the previously declared donors of Heartland was Exxon Mobil petroleum and gas, one of the major oil companies present in America. Although Exxon reportedly no longer finances Heartland, the connections to the oil and gas industry as a proclaimed environmental organization invokes skepticism towards the true vision behind Heartland.
In reference to previous tax returns filed with the Attorney General of Illinois, Heartland also receives a vast amount of their funding from the DonorTrust and the Donors Capital Fund, which both serve to mobilize funds for conservative organizations across America.
Referencing back to Heartland's leaked documents from 2012, a confidential business memo referenced funding from international powerhouse and conservative domineer, the Koch Brother Foundation. Upon further research into Koch's donations to other organizations and cross-referenced with Greenpeace's Anti-Environmental Archive formed in 2015, the Koch Brother Foundation finances over 17 other anti-environmental groups listed on the archive. Although Heartland has refuted the claim that they are financed by the Koch foundation, Koch tax returns and the 2012 memo, whether real or counterfeit, both show a clear link between the two organizations, and the largely conservative and anti-environmental nature of the Koch Foundation once again sheds doubt on the claim that Heartland is a skeptic, yet pro-environmental group.
In the 2012 Heartland Documents, an Anonymous Donor is referred to in a Big Brother attitude, stating that one anonymous donor funds the majority of Heartland's fundraising, campaigning and policy initiatives, but that this donation has slowly decreased over time. Despite multiple sources, including this page, investigating the background of the Heartland Institute, none have uncovered the identity of the Anonymous Donor. However, considering the size of the donations and the requested anonymity, it can be assumed that the donor is most likely a prominent political leader, corporate head or environmental activist prominent in the public sphere. According to Heartland's previous tax returns, Heartland has participated in lobbying and policy making in the past, most recently in 2015. Heartland was audited for both the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years but no violations were noted and the organization is now found as a registered nonprofit charitable organization on the Attorney General of Illinois webpage registry, although in the past this has not always been the case.
In reference to previous tax returns filed with the Attorney General of Illinois, Heartland also receives a vast amount of their funding from the DonorTrust and the Donors Capital Fund, which both serve to mobilize funds for conservative organizations across America.
Referencing back to Heartland's leaked documents from 2012, a confidential business memo referenced funding from international powerhouse and conservative domineer, the Koch Brother Foundation. Upon further research into Koch's donations to other organizations and cross-referenced with Greenpeace's Anti-Environmental Archive formed in 2015, the Koch Brother Foundation finances over 17 other anti-environmental groups listed on the archive. Although Heartland has refuted the claim that they are financed by the Koch foundation, Koch tax returns and the 2012 memo, whether real or counterfeit, both show a clear link between the two organizations, and the largely conservative and anti-environmental nature of the Koch Foundation once again sheds doubt on the claim that Heartland is a skeptic, yet pro-environmental group.
In the 2012 Heartland Documents, an Anonymous Donor is referred to in a Big Brother attitude, stating that one anonymous donor funds the majority of Heartland's fundraising, campaigning and policy initiatives, but that this donation has slowly decreased over time. Despite multiple sources, including this page, investigating the background of the Heartland Institute, none have uncovered the identity of the Anonymous Donor. However, considering the size of the donations and the requested anonymity, it can be assumed that the donor is most likely a prominent political leader, corporate head or environmental activist prominent in the public sphere. According to Heartland's previous tax returns, Heartland has participated in lobbying and policy making in the past, most recently in 2015. Heartland was audited for both the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years but no violations were noted and the organization is now found as a registered nonprofit charitable organization on the Attorney General of Illinois webpage registry, although in the past this has not always been the case.
Why is heartland running?
According to critics, the Heartland Institute operates to destroy the global warming and climate change initiatives in the public sphere, most notably by spreading misinformation that targets educators and students. However, according to Heartland, the institute seeks to encourage the public with the information that climate change and greenhouse gas theory are not definite, and instead are controversial and not accepted by all critically acclaimed scientists. This site is not geared to judge the character or motives of the Heartland Institute but instead serves to compile research, information and multiple perspectives so readers can become aware and make their own judgments in regards to Heartland's ultimate goals.
The Heartland Institute has created and founded the NIPCC, also known as the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change that is formed of climate change and greenhouse gas skeptics. It is claimed that the NIPCC is centered around the goal to establish an environment in which climate skeptics can gather and discuss policy issues and problems without the ridicule and backlash from "leftist" organizations and party members as well as from other scientists who are expressed climate change theory supporters.
The Heartland Institute has created and founded the NIPCC, also known as the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change that is formed of climate change and greenhouse gas skeptics. It is claimed that the NIPCC is centered around the goal to establish an environment in which climate skeptics can gather and discuss policy issues and problems without the ridicule and backlash from "leftist" organizations and party members as well as from other scientists who are expressed climate change theory supporters.