Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow

Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow
Abbreviation CFACT
Motto Prospering Lives. Promoting Progress. Protecting the Earth.
Formation 1985
Type Nonprofit organization think tank
Headquarters Washington, DC, United States
President
 David Rothbard
Key people
  • Craig Rucker
  • Marc Morano
  • Duggan Flanakin
  • Christina Wilson Norman
  • Paul Driessen
Revenue (2015)
$2,131,668[1]
Expenses (2015) $1,751,468[1]
Website www.cfact.org

The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 that originally advocated for free-market solutions to environmental issues,[2][3] but has increasingly turned to climate change denial. For example, CFACT co-founder Craig Rucker stated that mankind faces a threat "not from man-made global warming, but from man-made hysteria."[4] At the 29 April 2017 Climate March, leaflets distributed by CFACT claimed the scientific consensus that mankind is now driving global changes in the planet's climate are "bogus", that reports of record-setting temperatures are "the hottest lie" being told, and "CO2 is not the 'control knob' of the climate".

Personnel and funding

CFACT is governed by a Board of Directors that includes founding president David Rothbard. Staffers include communications director Marc Morano and policy analyst Paul Driessen, the author of Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death.[5]

Total revenues over the years 2009 through 2011 have averaged around $3 million, as reported on the organization's IRS Form 990[6] and its most recent annual audited financial statement.[7] In 2010, nearly half of CFACT's funding came from Donors Trust, a nonprofit donor-advised fund.[8] In 2011, CFACT received a $1.2 million grant from Donors Trust, 40% of CFACT's revenue that year.[9] Peabody Energy funded CFACT before its bankruptcy.[10]

Advocacy activities

CFACT is a member organization of the Cooler Heads Coalition. CFACT chapters have protested in defense of oil exploration[11] and in opposition to the Kyoto Protocol.[12] CFACT supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.[13] A 2009 article in Mother Jones magazine said CFACT was a source of climate disinformation.[14]

Climate Hustle documentary

The 2016 documentary film Climate Hustle, co-written and presented by ClimateDepot's Marc Morano, was produced by "CFACT Presents", with the organization's president and executive director, David Rothbard and Craig Rucker, receiving executive producer credits.[15][16]

Copenhagen Climate Challenge 2009

During the COP15 conference in Copenhagen, CFACT hosted a rival event in Copenhagen called the Copenhagen Climate Challenge, which was attended by about 50 people.[17] According to Lenore Taylor of The Australian, Professor Ian Plimer, "a star attraction of the two-day event", attracted an audience of 45.[18]

Greenhouse de-regulation

In December 2013 CFACT served as amicus curiae for the Southeastern Legal Foundation in the review of the Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency case. Their main argument presented was: "The EPA's attempt to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources without authority from congress in order to accomplish its preferred policy objectives violates the separation of powers.[19]

The challenges were unanimously rejected by a three-judge panel at the D.C. circuit court, some on the merits and some over issues of standing.[20] The Supreme Court accepted review of the case and heard oral arguments on February 24, 2014.[21] On June 23, 2014, the Court reaffirmed EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.[22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow" (PDF). Foundation Center. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow". GuideStar. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Kaufman, Leslie (April 9, 2009). "Dissenter on Warming Expands His Campaign". New York Times. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Rucker, Craig (December 9, 2009). "'Man-Made Hysteria'". National Journal. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "CFACT Staff". Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "CFACT's 2011 IRS Form 990" (PDF). Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "CFACT 2011 Audit" (PDF). Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  8. ↑ Goldenberg, Suzanne (February 14, 2013). "How Donors Trust distributed millions to anti-climate groups". The Guardian. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ Hickley, Walter (February 12, 2013). "Inside The Secretive Dark-Money Organization That's Keeping The Lights On For Conservative Groups". Business Insider. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  10. ↑ http://blog.ucsusa.org/gretchen-goldman/peabody-energy-discloses-extensive-payments-to-climate-denial-groups
  11. ↑ "CFACT". cfactcampus.org.
  12. ↑ "CFACT". cfactcampus.org.
  13. ↑ "Drilling for straight facts on ANWR development". cfact.org.
  14. ↑ Harkinson, Josh (December 4, 2009). "The Dirty Dozen of Climate Change Denial". Mother Jones. Retrieved August 17, 2015. Here's a guide to the dozen loudest components of the climate disinformation machine...Meet the 12 loudest members of the chorus claiming that global warming is a joke and that CO2 emissions are actually good for you.
  15. ↑ Hinckley, Story (2 May 2016). "'Climate Hustle' mocks climate change concerns with a movie". Christian Science Monitor.
  16. ↑ McNary, Dave (11 April 2016). "Sarah Palin Endorses Anti-Climate Change Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  17. ↑ Gray, Louise (2009-12-09). "Copenhagen climate summit: Behind the scenes at the sceptics' conference – Telegraph". London: telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  18. ↑ "Plimer the toast of Copenhagen sceptics meeting". The Australian. www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  19. ↑ "Brief of the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioners" (PDF). American Bar Association. December 16, 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to E.P.A. Rules on Gas Emissions". The New York Times. October 15, 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  21. ↑ . March 10, 2014 http://www.bna.com/top-five-bloomberg-b17179882709/. Retrieved 17 March 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ↑ "Supreme Court Says EPA Can Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions". July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  • Committee for A Constructive Tomorrow
  • "Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow Internal Revenue Service filings". ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
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