U.S. Climate Change Deniers Pump Millions Into UK Tory Think Tanks

Right-wing United Kingdom (UK) think tanks with close access to ministers have received millions of dark money donations from the United States (U.S.), Adam Bychawski reported for openDemocracy.

Photo Insert: At least $6 million has been channeled to the UK, representing 11 percent of the think tanks' total UK receipts, with the Adam Smith Institute accounting for 23 percent.

Since 2012, American donors have contributed $9 million to the Taxpayers' Alliance, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Policy Exchange, the Adam Smith Institute, and the Legatum Institute.

According to tax returns filed with U.S. authorities, at least $6 million has been channeled to the UK, representing 11 percent of the think tanks' total UK receipts, with the Adam Smith Institute accounting for 23 percent.

All five have steadily increased their connections in government, securing over 100 meetings with ministers, and more than a dozen of their former staff have joined Boris Johnson's government as special advisers.

As openDemocracy revealed on June 16, ExxonMobil gave Policy Exchange $30,000 in 2017.

The think tank went on to recommend that new anti-protest legislation be enacted to target groups like Extinction Rebellion, a global environmental movement with the stated aim of using nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action on climate change.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act 2022 is a direct result of this lobby.

None of these think tanks mention who funds them in the United Kingdom. With the exception of the Adam Smith Institute, none of them provide the identities of their donors to their U.S. fundraising arms.

Oil companies and numerous key sponsors of climate change denial in the U.S. are among the American entities that have donated to UK think tanks. Between 2003 and 2018, the think tanks' U.S. arms collected $5.4 million from 18 contributors who also donated a total of $584 million to a large network of groups supporting climate denial in the U.S.

The John Templeton Foundation, established by the late wealthy American-British financier, has given nearly $2 million to the Adam Smith Institute and the IEA's American branches.

The John Templeton Foundation, according to researchers, has a "history of funding what could be seen as anti-science activities and groups (particularly concerning climate-change and stem-cell research.)" The trust has donated $22 million to anti-climate change groups.

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