Patrick Michaels

 Credentials

• S.M. Biology, 1975, University of Chicago.
• Biological Sciences, 1971, University of Chicago.
• Special Graduate Committee on Ecological Climatology, 1979.

Source: [1]

 Background

Patrick Michaels is a professor at the University of Virginia. He is also the founder of a consulting firm titled New Hope Environmental Services. Michaels describes (PDF) the firm's purpose as to "publicize findings on climate change and scientific and social perspectives that may not otherwise appear in the popular literature or media. This entails both response research and public commentary." [2]

SourceWatch describes New Hope Environmental Services as "in effect…a PR firm." New Hope is secretive about its funding sources, and fought a Greenpeace motion seeking disclosure.  It is known to have received funds from electrical utilities in the past.

New Hope Environmental Services also runs a climate change blog titled The World Climate Report which is edited by Patrick Michaels.

According to a January 2007 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists titled "Smoke, Mirrors and Hot Air: how ExxonMobil uses big tobacco to manufacture uncertainty on climate science," Michaels is connected to more than 11 think-tanks and associations that have received money from ExxonMobil, many of which have gone on to sow doubt about human-induced global warming.

Michaels has also admitted that "40 percent" of his funding comes from the oil industry. [3]

Stance on Climate Change

"It's hardly news that human beings have had a hand in the planetary warming that began more than 30 years ago. For nearly a century, scientists have known that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide would eventually result in warming that was most pronounced in winter, especially on winter's coldest days, and a cooling of the stratosphere. All of these have been observed.[…]

"[…] the best policy is to live with some modest climate change now and encourage economic development, which will generate the capital necessary for investment in the more efficient technologies of the future." [4]

Key Quotes

"Reports of rapid disintegration of Greenland’s ice ignore the fact that the region was warmer than it is now for several decades in the early 20th century, before humans could have had much influence on climate. Similar stories concerning Antarctica neglect the fact that the net temperature trend in recent decades is negative, or that warming the surrounding ocean can serve only to enhance snowfall, resulting in a gain in ice. Global warming affects hurricanes in both positive and negative fashions, and there is no relationship between the severity of storms and ocean-surface temperature, once a commonly exceeded threshold temperature is reached. Reports of massive species extinction also turn out to be impressively flawed." [5]

Key Deeds

June 30 - July 1, 2011

Michaels was a speaker at the Heartland Institute's Sixth International Conference on Climate Change.

His speech was titled "Hotheads, Lukewarmers, History, and the Future." [6]

June 2, 2009

Speaker at the Heartland Institute's Third International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC3). [6]

The conference’s theme was "Climate Change: Scientific Debate and Economic Analysis" to reflect Heartland's belief that that "scientific debate is not over," and it was designed to "call attention to widespread dissent to the asserted 'consensus' on various aspects of climate change and global warming."

February 12, 2009

Testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Environment during their hearing, "The Climate Crisis: National Security, Public Health, and Economic Threats."

According to the World Climate Report,  "Dr. MIchaels’ general message was that the recent behavior of global temperatures is starting to push the (lower) bounds of climate models’ expectations of such behavior and that if the current slowdown in the rate of global warming continues for much longer, we must start to question the reliability of climate projections of the future state of our climate." [7]

2009

Participated in the "Climate Chains" video along with fellow climate change skeptics Myron Ebell, Marlo Lewis, Chris Horner, and Todd Wynn.

The video claims that "One of the greatest threats to freedom and prosperity in America is climate change legislation." The video was organized by the Cascade Policy Institute. [21]

March 2 - 4, 2008

Michaels was a speaker at the Heartland Institute's First International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC1). [6]

According to conference's invitation letter, "The purpose of the conference is to generate international media attention to the fact that many scientists believe forecasts of rapid warming and catastrophic events are not supported by sound science, and that expensive campaigns to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are not necessary or cost-effective [emphasis added]".

May 2, 2007

Patrick Michaels was an "Expert" on Appeared on Glenn Beck's May 2, 2007 special "Exposed: The Climate of Fear" (PDF).

Beck promised the program would present the "other side of the climate debate that you don't hear anywhere." Media Transparency recorded a list of falsehoods that were propagated by the program. [8]

March 8, 2007

Michaels appeared in The Great Global Warming Swindle along with other prominent climate change skeptics such as Tim Ball, Roy Spencer, Fred Singer and others.

The Great Global Warming Swindle received critical response from the scientific community, including a letter to ABC signed by thirty-seven British Scientists that claimed: [9]

"the misrepresentations of facts and views, both of which occur in your programme, are so serious that repeat broadcasts of the programme, without amendment, are not in the public interest. In view of the seriousness of climate change as an issue, it is crucial that public debate about it is balanced and well-informed." 

An interview between ABC Australia’s Tony Jones and the film’s director Martin Durkin also brought the film’s validity and scientific accuracy into question.

July 17 - 19, 2006

Michaels attended the International Conference on Global Warming and the Next Ice Age which convenes every five years, with the most recent (PDF) being in 2006 (which included an extensive workshop on "climate prediction uncertainties"). [10]

Organizer Petr Chylek claims its purpose is to "promote open discussion" regarding climate issues. The conference suggests that global warming is a natural process and possibly even "a blessing." [11]

Other climate skeptics who have attended the conference include Fred Singer, Chris De Freitas, Roger Pielke Sr., and Ross McKitrick.

July, 2006

DeSmogBlog and ABC News uncovered a leaked memo written by the president of the Intermountain Rural Electrical Association that linked to Patrick Michaels' consulting firm.

The memo shows that New Hope Environmental Services received $100,000 from the IREA and "other electrical cooperatives" in the past. Controversy ensued, with the Virginia governor's office voicing its concern over Michaels use of the title of "state climatologist."

The Washington Post reports: [12]

"Michaels, a professor at the University of Virginia, also moonlights as one of the country's most aggressive and, in some circles, most reviled skeptics about the scientific consensus on climate change. It was that role that landed Michaels in the center of a small controversy in Richmond last month, when the administration of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) asked him to be clear that he is not speaking for the state when discussing issues such as global warming."

August 19, 2002

Appeared on CNN's "Capital Gang", arguing against the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Michaels also argued that global warming, if it is happening, could be beneficial. [13]

December 31, 1998

Published a study entitled "Long Hot Year: Latest Science Debunks Global Warming Hysteria" through the Cato Institute's "Policy Analysis" series. [14]

 Affiliations

• The George C Marshall Institute — "Expert" and "Visiting Scientist" (1996 - 2007). [1], [15]
• Cato Institute —  "Expert" and "Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies." [16], [17]
• Heritage Foundation — Policy Expert and lecturer in 1992 and 2006. [17], [1]
• Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC) — Past "Supporter." The TASSC is now defunct. [18]
• Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) — Member, "Advisory Board." [19]
• Greening Earth Society — "Scientific Advisor."
• American Council on Science and Health — "Science Advisor." [17]
• American Legislative Exchange Council — Report Author. [17]
• Consumer Alert — Advisory Council Member. [17]
• Tech Central Station — Science Roundtable Member. [17]
• Weidenbaum Center — Study Author. [17]

 Publications

Michaels has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals in the area of climate.

Michaels has co-published many of his studies with well known climate skeptics. He was co-published numerous papers with Paul C. Knappenberger, Robert E. Davis, David Douglass, and S. Fred Singer.

Some of Michaels's papes were published in Climate Research journal around the time that climate skeptic Chris de Freitas was serving as one of the journal's editors. Half of the journal's editors resigned over poor quality control in mid-2003.

Additionally, he has published some of his papers in the journal Energy and Environment, run by climate skeptic Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen. Christiansen has described (PDF) her journal as a place for skeptics to go when their papes are rejected by more mainstream science journals. [20]

For example:

• Robert E. Davis, Paul C. Knappenberger, Patrick J. Michaels, Wendy M. Novicoff. "Seasonality of climate–human mortality relationships in US cities and impacts of climate change" (PDF), Climate Research, Vol. 26 (April 19, 2004).

• Paul C. Knappenberger, Patrick J. Michaels, Robert E. Davis. "Nature of observed temperature changes across the United States during the 20th century," Climate Research, Vol. 17, No. 1 (July 4, 2001).

• Patrick J. Michaels, Paul C. Knappenberger, and Robert E. Davis. "Sea-surface temperatures and tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin" (PDF), Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 33 (May, 2006).

• Patrick J. Michaels, Paul C. Knappenberger, Oliver W. Frauenfeld, Robert E. Davis. "Trends in precipitation on the wettest days of the year across the contiguous USA," International Journal of Climatology, Volume 24, Issue 15 (December 2004), pages 1873–1882.

• David H. Douglass, Benjamin D. Pearson, S. Fred Singer, Paul C. Knappenberger, Patrick J. Michaels. "Disparity of tropospheric and surface temperature trends: New evidence," Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 31 (2004).

• Patrick J. Michaels. "Evidence for 'publication Bias' Concerning Global Warming in Science and Nature," Energy & Environment, Vol. 19, No. 2 (March, 2008).

 Resources

1. "Patrick Michaels CV Plain Text File-Climate Change Guide/Skeptics and Contrarians," Society of Environmental Journalists. Archived July 16, 2011.

2. "Green Mountain Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Jeep, et al. Plantiffs v. George crombie, et al. Defendants, Greenpeace, Inc. Intervenor" (PDF), United States District Court (District of Vermont) Case 2:05-cv-00302-wks, Document 521-4 (Filed 07/06/2007), Docket Nos. 02:25-CV-302, 02:05-CV-305 (Consolidated). Accessed January, 2012, from SourceWatch.org.

3. Brad Johnson. "Cato’s Pat Michaels admits 40 percent of funding comes from big oil," ThinkProgress, August 16, 2010.

4. "Live with Climate Change," USA Today, February 2, 2007. Republished by the Cato Institute.

5. "Is the Sky Really Falling? A Review of Recent Global Warming Scare Stories," the Cato Institute, Policy Analysis no. 576 (August 23, 2006).

6. "Patrick J. Michaels," International Conference on Climate Change (climateconference.heartland.org). Accessed January, 2012.

7. "Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Testimony," World Climate Report, February 13, 2009.

8. "Exposed: Glenn Beck's Climate of Distortion," Media Transparency, May 8, 2007.

9. "The Great Global Warming Swindle: open letter to Martin Durkin from 37 signatories (April 2007)," April 24, 2007. Republished by Climate of denial.

10. "The Second International Conference on Global warming and the Next Ice Age" (PDF), Accessed January, 2012, from Zender Group Webserver.

11. "The First International Conference on Global Warming and The Next Ice Age," Accessed January, 2012.

12. Juliet Eilperin and David A. Fahrenthold. "Climatologist Draws Heat From Critics," The Washington Post, September 17, 2006.

13. "Pat Michaels Is Interviewed for CNN's "Capital Gang" (transcript)," Cato Institute, August 19, 2002.

14. Patrick Michaels. "Long Hot Year: Latest Science Debunks Global Warming Hysteria," Cato Institute Policy Analysis No. 329 (December 31, 1998).

15. "Dr. Patrick J. Michaels," George C. Marshall Institute. Accessed January, 2012.

16. "Patrick J. Michaels: Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies," The Cato Institute. Accessed January, 2012.

17. "Smoke, Mirrors & Hot Air" (PDF), Union of Concerned Scientists, January, 2007.

18. "The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC) Supporters List," June 3-, 1993. Archived at Legacy Tobacco Documents Library February 1, 2002.

19. "CFACT Board of Advisors," Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. Accessed January, 2012.

20. Paul D. Thacker. "Skeptics get a journal" (PDF), Environmental Science & Technology Online, August 31, 2005. Republished by RealClimate.

21. About the Experts," ClimateChains.com. Archived April 1, 2010.

22. ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Patrick J. Michaels.

23. "Patrick J. Michaels," SourceWatch Profile.