Google has made 'substantial' contributions to climate change deniers
Google has made 'substantial' contributions to more than a dozen organizations which deny , it has been revealed. Several groups which have campaigned against climate change action are on Google's website as among those which receive 'the most substantial contributions' from its US Government Affairs and Public Policy team, the reported. Among the beneficiaries are non-profit libertarian think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), which described as having made 'many statements denying the seriousness of global warming'. The charity also claimed the think tank has, in the past, 'argued that climate change would create a milder, greener, more prosperous world'. The CEI also helped convince Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from the Paris accord on climate change, which Barack Obama had entered, in June 2017. At the time, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said he was 'disappointed' by the Trump administration's decision and pledged that Google would 'keep working' for a 'cleaner, more prosperous future'. He said on Twitter: 'Disappointed with today's decision. Google will keep working hard for a cleaner, more prosperous future for all'. Google is also listed as a benefactor of the American Conservative Union, which has hosted climate science deniers at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The internet giant has, however, defended its decision to contribute to such groups. It said these 'collaborations' do not necessarily mean 'we endorse the organisations' entire agenda'. A spokesperson added that Google is 'hardly alone' in contributing to organisations while 'strongly disagreeing with them on climate policy'. 'We've been extremely clear that Google's sponsorship doesn't mean that we endorse that organisations entire agenda we may disagree strongly on some issues', a statement said. 'Our position on climate change is similarly clear. Since 2007, we have operated as a carbon neutral company and for the second year in a row, we reached 100 per cent renewable energy for our global operations'. Google is also listed as a sponsor for the 27th Annual Meeting of the State Policy Network - an umbrella organization for a consortium of conservative and libertarian think tanks of which the CEI is a part. Facebook is also listed among the 33 sponsors for the event. The State Policy Network supports the Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank which has previously condemned Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg, 16, of so-called 'climate delusion hysterics'. Google does state within its US Public Policy, however, that its 'sponsorship or collaboration with a third party organization doesnt mean that we endorse the organizations' entire agenda, its events or advocacy positions nor the views of its leaders or members'.