February 8, 2006

INHOFE DISMISSES PEW “AGENDA FOR CLIMATE ACTION” AS A POLITICAL AGENDA FOR FAILURE

“Pew Charitable Trusts has a long history of partisan political activism that unfortunately receives little attention.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today dismissed the Pew Center on Global Climate Change’s so-called “Agenda for Climate Action,” asserting that the “mandatory limits” on carbon dioxide promoted by Pew and its allies will only hurt disadvantaged Americans while also calling attention to the Center’s parent organization’s long history of financial support for partisan political activism.

 

“The Pew Center’s ‘Agenda for Climate Action’ is nothing more than a political agenda for failure,” Senator Inhofe said. “Pew touts 60 reports they have released on climate change that have had little or no impact, and now they’re simply crossing their fingers that the 61st is the charm. They certainly have more reports than votes in the Senate.

“Only last year, Pew Center president Eileen Claussen said in The Washington Post that the greatest value of the Kyoto Protocol is ‘symbolic.’ To her, the greatest value may be symbolic, but the worst reality to the rest of us is that disadvantaged Americans and those who live on fixed incomes would be unfairly punished by the mandatory controls Pew and their political allies promote. Research has shown that poor and disadvantaged individuals are negatively impacted by energy rate increases due to climate change-related costs. I have said before that we must take into account the costs associated with efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions because we should never force parents to choose between heating their home in the winter and feeding their children.

“Pew Charitable Trusts has a long history of partisan political activism that unfortunately receives little attention. In September 2004, our committee released a report showing Pew’s involvement with and financial support for activist organizations such as the NRDC, Environmental Defense and Clear the Air Campaign – all groups that actively campaigned against President Bush’s reelection in support of a broader liberal agenda.”

Pew Charitable Trusts created the Pew Center on Global Climate Change in 1998. Pew also sponsors the work of the Clear the Air Campaign with a $3.4 million grant in 1999, $4.3 million grant in 2000, nearly $5 million grant in 2001, and $4.7 million grant in 2003 with which it published its 2004 election year report, Dirty Air, Dirty Power.

Since 1998, Pew has contributed tens of millions dollars to various environmental activist organizations. These contributions include nearly $18 million to Earthjustice, more than $3 million to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and more than $3.7 million to Environmental Defense. Pew has also contributed $32.6 million to the Tides Center and Foundation over the same period. The Tides organization has contributed over $1.4 million to the Sierra Club and affiliates, Greenpeace and affiliates, the NRDC, and the Environmental Working Group since 1998.