Climate Denier, Former Greenpeace Activist, Speaks at UO Today

Patrick Moore, of the controversial Heartland Institute to speak at business school

A posting on the University of Oregon’s Around the O news website says:

“A co-founder of Greenpeace will give a campus talk on the use of wood as a source of renewable energy this Thursday, Oct. 11.

Patrick Moore, who is no longer with the international environmental organization, will speak at 6 p.m. in Room 180, Prince Lucien Campbell Hall. The talk is free and open to the public.”

What the UO post does not say is that Patrick Moore is not only no longer with the Greenpeace but that the group also says that since leaving Greenpeace in 1986, “he has gone from defender of the planet to a paid representative of corporate polluters.”

Moore is a climate change “skeptic.”

Moore is listed as a policy expert on the Heartland Institute website. The Heartland Institute is a “free market think tank” known for throwing its weight and money at climate change denial. Heartland cites the Oregon Petition, a much-debunked climate change denying list of signatures put forth by Oregon’s favorite wingnut and perennial congressional candidate Art Robinson.

In a recent appearance on conservative podcast, Louder with Crowder, called, “Greenpeace Founder Debunks Climate Change,” posted Sept. 11, Moore says There is nothing, absolutely zero nothing, in today’s weather or climate that is anywhere near out of line with the last 10,000 years in this interglacial period since the ice caps melted the last time.”

According to Around the O, “Moore speaks on sustainable energy and renewable resources. He has been involved in environmental activism for more than 40 years.” And, the talk, “Trees are the Answer: Forests and the Environment” will address “Moore’s thoughts on the economics and science around wood as a renewable source of materials and energy.”

Greenpeace says, “Patrick Moore often misrepresents himself in the media as an environmental ‘expert’ or even an ‘environmentalist,’ while offering anti-environmental opinions on a wide range of issues and taking a distinctly anti-environmental stance. He also exploits long-gone ties with Greenpeace to sell himself as a speaker and pro-corporate spokesperson, usually taking positions that Greenpeace opposes.”

Last month, the Oregon Legislature was also visited by a Heartland Institute representative. Sightline Institute reported that Kevin Dayaratna, testified to the Oregon Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction about carbon regulations. Dayartna is also a statistician with The Heritage Foundation, which Sightline says, “tries to spin climate pollution as good for us.” Sightline is a sustainability think tank.

According to Around the O, the event is sponsored by the Lundquist College of Business Center for Sustainable Business practices and the Seneca Company, and seating is on a first-come first serve basis. The talk is followed by a Q&A.