Climate Change Denial Sweeping Into Public Schools

The various attacks on public and private unions orchestrated across the states has clear, direct ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC. But did you know that a host of anti-science bills mandating the teaching of climate change denial or “skepticism” as a credible “theoretical alternative” to climate change is also an ALEC bill?

So far Texas and Louisiana have introduced education standards that require educators to teach climate change denial as a valid scientific position. Both South Dakota and Utah passed resolutions denying climate change and Tennessee and Oklahoma also have introduced legislation to open classrooms up to climate change deniers.

In this case the ALEC model bill is called the “Environmental Literacy Improvement Act and is financed by the oil and gas industry. The Center for Media and Democracy traced the money behind the bill and discovered The Heartland Institute, run by the daughter of disgraced Watergate convict G. Gordon Liddy helped develop the bill. The Heartland Institute is heavily funded by ExxonMobile and Koch Industries.

It’s not just that corporations have extensive resources to pour into electoral politics via dark money, its that they simultaneously fund these astroturf groups that promote disinformation campaigns purely to promote their own economic gains. It’s a dirty, cynical way to conduct public policy and governance that is ultimately not compatible with a healthy, functioning democracy.

Climate Skeptic Think Tank Asked To Reveal Secret Funders

Photo from natalielucier via flickr.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jamie C.

1:08PM PST on Feb 22, 2012

The earth is flat. round is only a theory.

send a green star

Samantha G.

10:55PM PST on Feb 8, 2012

Right mmmmk so how are they going to explain ocean acidification and the forests's carbon sink abilities??

antonia m.

10:56PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Well, gravity is a "theory"... They don't believe in that either?

Mark S.

3:12AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

P.S., the temps have barely got below zero for 20 years, and this year, the lowest temp was in the teens above zero back in december, Most days are at least 10 degrees above normal.

3:09AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

No global warming? I can remember growing up, and into my early 20's, it used to get 10 degrees to 18 below zero in the winter. That hasn't happened for about 20 years now.
People will deny poison can kill them, until they take it and die.

jill b.

11:57AM PST on Feb 2, 2012

Amazingly stupid of these schools and the people that actually did what they were told by these oil corp. These schools sold themselves out. May they NOT RIP.

Theo C.

1:43PM PST on Feb 1, 2012

Now if only it was as easy to change the laws of physics as it is to vote against not teaching them.

Bee H.

7:07PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

Denial of empirical evidence is now a ...... this is too twisted. Fortunately, we can control the way we treat our planet and only that. So defiantly live as Green as you can.

Mark D.

1:14PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

here we go, Walter A. is making "decisive" statements straight from the bible and a dark superstitious mind, as if he has gone around the world personally and measured global climate changes and temperatures better than than thousands of scientists and physicists working millions of hours. That is also the typical personal idiocy and reality denial you also hear from the rock headed dumb GOP or fake Democrat politicians: "the world is flat because I say so". Listen to that blather and you might as well watch Saturday morning cartoons

Chris M.

1:10PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

Texas and Louisiana? Well it doesn't take a brain to understand why those two states are in denial about climate change. Come to think of it neither can boast having reputable educational systems either.