ABIR On Global Warming
[Updated w/correction] The Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers [ABIR] and a subsidiary of the Hamilton-based Renaissance Re were among the insurers recently disclosed as supporting an American think tank which has as one of its programs an effort discredit the theory of man-made global warming. ABIR noted its support is for a separate and unrelated part of the think tank’s programs and has played no role in the group’s climate change work.
The Heartland Institute acknowledged yesterday [Feb.15] that it accidentally released sensitive budget materials identifying secret donors and its disappointing fundraising commitments to someone who had masqueraded as a member of its board.
The Chicago-based group, which rejects the scientific underpinnings of climate change, also accused the unknown culprit of fabricating a “climate strategy” document that casts Heartland as a shill for corporations that would be financially disadvantaged by policies reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The strategy memo “is a total fake apparently intended to defame and discredit The Heartland Institute,” the group said in a statement yesterday.
“Identity theft and computer fraud are criminal offenses subject to imprisonment. We intend to find this person and see him or her put in prison for these crimes.”
The Scientific Mainstream Accepts Human Activities Impact On Climate Change
Still, Heartland’s attempts to persuade US lawmakers that man-made climate change is not harmful to society are illuminated by other, apparently legitimate, disclosed documents as being closely aligned with influential donors.
One key contributor, referred to as “the Anonymous Donor” throughout the budget papers, has provided more than $8.4 million to the group’s global warming projects since 2007. But the donor, who provided about 20 percent of Heartland’s total budget last year, has recently been giving less. In 2008, he gave $3.3 million to the climate category; last year, it was $629,000.
“We are extinguishing primarily global warming projects in pace with declines in his giving, and we were careful not to hire staff based on his past generosity,” said a financial report for the fourth quarter of last year posted on the Desmogblog.
The documents also reveal a web of Heartland donors whose identities are normally protected under Internal Revenue Service rules for nonprofits, prompting Heartland to publicly apologise to contributors who ordinarily remain secret.
The Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, which is connected to the US energy services giant Koch Industries, gave $25,000 last year and is expected to provide $200,000 in 2012, according to the document. Innsurance companies and trade groups also contributed to Heartland, including the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers ($75,000 in 2011), Farmers’ Insurance ($25,000 projected in 2012) and Renaissance ReService Ltd. ($317,000 in 2011).
ABIR is the public policy branch of Bermuda’s re/insurance industry, with offices in Hamilton and Washington DC.
Altogether, Heartland raised $4.6 million last year, about $1.5 million less than it anticipated.
Andrew Hoffman, a social science professor at the University of Michigan who has studied Heartland in an effort to understand how climate skeptics are being influenced by outside groups, says the documents provide a window into how groups that ideologically oppose climate change operate.
“I think it just sort of exposes the very concerted machine that’s out there trying to promote one side of the argument,” Mr. Hoffman said, adding that climate change believers shouldn’t be “too glib and gleeful” about the disclosure.
“That brings everybody in the debate down to the lowest denominator,” Mr. Hoffman said. “Let’s elevate the conversation. Let’s not try to use this as saying ‘Gotcha.’”
Update: ABIR says they doe not support the climate science public policy work of the Heartland Institute, and issued this statement, “Substantial scientific evidence documents that human activity is affecting the climate of the earth.
“Although it is impossible to predict how and when this climate change will affect the weather in specific geographic areas, we can assume that the impact of climate change on (re)insurance risk will be significant.
“Given changes in the climate, the ability to forecast future loss experience based on past historical experience is jeopardized. Climate change has implications for ABIR members as (re)insurers, businesses, investors, citizens and employers.”
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Family Man – the reconciliation you seek is nonsense. Many environmentalists do not believe in man-made global warming. That is not to say that the earth is not warming up and it is not to say that green energy should not be pursued. It is a fact that the earth warms and cools over time but many environmentalists believe that the warming and cooling is a natural phenomenon and we should not be wasting money on stopping the production of carbon dioxide. Rather we should use that money to invest in new, cleaner, more efficient energy sources, whether those sources produce carbon dioxide or not.
Family Man, the question is not whether or not climate is changing. It always has and always will. The question is whether or not AGW is real – the “A” in that term is the important question – whether the earth is warming, or cooling, or whatever is a very different question from whether or not the change is man-made.
If you really think we are not causing climate change – think again: http://www.skepticalscience.com/
Feb. 19, 2012
Correction BERNEWS Heartland Institute Story on Climate Change
Contrary to the incorrect BERNEWS headline and lead sentence, the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) does not support the climate science public policy work of the Heartland Institute. We respectfully request that BERNEWS correct its story. Heartland is a free market think tank and we support its work in other areas including insurance regulatory reform. The work that Heartland does in insurance regulatory reform has a pro-environment element because 1) it promotes legislation that would establish risk based insurance pricing; and 2) opposes creation of government insurance funds that would subsidize the cost of insurance. The effect of this legislation would be to discourage development in environmentally sensitive areas. It also creates opportunities for ABIR members to write more business.
Reprinted below is an excerpt from the ABIR climate change policy statement which has guided our public policy work since 2009.
ABIR POLICY STATEMENT: Climate Change
Approved December 2, 2009
ABIR Board of Directors
Substantial scientific evidence documents that human activity is affecting the climate of the earth. Although it is impossible to predict how and when this climate change will affect the weather in specific geographic areas, we can assume that the impact of climate change on (re)insurance risk will be significant. Given changes in the climate, the ability to forecast future loss experience based on past historical experience is jeopardized. Climate change has implications for ABIR members as (re)insurers, businesses, investors, citizens and employers.
The complete ABIR statement—and other documents—are available on our web site at http://www.ABIR.bm
As to the “Family Man” blog posting, now that you know the story is incorrect we would expect that you would withdraw your mean spirited comment.
For More Information: Contact Bradley Kading, President and Executive Director, Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, 202 783 2434; Bradley.Kading@ABIR.bm
The issue is not Global Warming. The issue is polluting our water, air, oceans, atmosphere, food and hacking down all the oxygen producing trees etc. to the point were society is suffering by becoming weak, feeble, and unhealthy. We are destroying the beauty of the world and the stability of future generations. These things alone should be enough to make us change the way we consume. But if we don’t demand it as consumers; it will never happen.