The Global Warming Policy Foundation, a climate skeptical think tank, was reported to the Charity Commission by Greens MP Caroline Lucas and Extinction Rebellion.
move comes after the Guardian reported that group received funding from fossil fuel interests.
The think tank has philanthropic status, but climate campaigners say questions about its funding mean that should to be naked of This.
In a letter to the Charity Commission, the signatories, including writers Irwin Welsh and Zadie Smith, say the GWPF is “not a charity, it’s a fossil fuel lobby.” group”.
GUPF, set up in 2009 former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson has experienced a recent resurgence in his influence in parliament. It has MP Steve Baker as a trustee and research promoted by Net Zero Scrutiny Group of Conservative MPs.
Letter also claims the think tank is neglecting rules that charity should be run for in public good. The Commission states that “the purpose must be useful – it must be in a way which is identifiable and capable of supported by evidence when necessary and not based on on personal views.”
This is also says “any loss or damage which results away from the target (to people, property or environment) should not outweigh the benefits – this is also based on on evidence and not on personal views.”
The signers say that GWPF does not respect this because it “works against in public need prepare, mitigate and adapt to the unfolding climate emergency” and therefore does not serve or benefit society.
They claim that group funding can show conflict of interest and that it doesn’t work for in public good.
Through its American division group received $210,525 in 2018 and 2020 from the Sarah Skaife Foundation – set up libertarian billionaire, heir to an oil and banking dynasty. USA foundation has 30 million dollars of shares in 22 energy companies, including $9 million in Exxon and $5.7 million in Chevron, according to him financial sawdust.
Between 2016 and 2020 American Friends of GWPF received $620,259 from the Donors Trust, which is funded by the Koch brothers. who inherited their father’s Russian oil empire and spent hundreds of millions of dollars funding the climate denial movement.
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The letter concludes: “We are looking at the Charity Commission’s own guidance on what charitable work should sure ‘protection people from harm is central to his culture.” We affirm that the ongoing global harm caused climate change is exacerbated by vested interests that use GWPF’s undeserved philanthropic status as a front for their interests.”
representative for GWPF declined to comment on letter to the charitable commission. The think tank responded to previous revelations about its funding by saying that the companies it receives money of are not considered oil and gas interests due to the fact that the wealth created from fossil fuels is historical.
