Google pulls funding for climate sceptic group

Google has labelled its funding of political group the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which denies manmade climate change and has opposed efforts to reduce emissions, as a “mistake”.

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Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google, explained that the company had paid ALEC as part of a lobbying campaign on an unrelated issue. However, he added that ALEC’s views on climate change did not align with Google’s after facing pressure from organisations.

Speaking to the National Public Radio, Schmidt said, “I think the consensus within the company was that that was some sort of mistake, and so we’re trying to not do that in the future.

“The facts of climate change are not in question anymore. Everyone understands climate change is occurring, and the people who oppose [climate change] are really hurting our children and grandchildren and making the world a much worse place. We should not be aligned with such people. They are just literally lying.”

Earlier this month a group of 50 US public interest organisations sent a letter to Google executives asking for the company to end its involvement with ALEC. The letter calls for Google to cut ties with ALEC given that the company has become a leader in investing in clean energy alternatives.

ALEC has been involved in a study that looks at the possible positive effects of climate change and has previously commented that proposed rules to limit carbon emissions could hurt the economy.

Photo: Robert Scoble via Flickr 

Further reading:

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