The Global Climate Coalition (1989–2002) was a group of mainly United States businesses opposing immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The group formed in response to several reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). A major scientific report on the severity of global warming by the IPCC in 2001 led to large-scale membership loss.[1] Since 2002 the GCC has been defunct, or in its own words, "deactivated".[2]
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When it closed in 2002 it said its mission had been successfully achieved. To quote from their website:[2]
The group was formed in 1989 response to several reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
From 1997 a number of prominent members left. Partly in response to a public relation move to acknowledge global warming and attempt to reduce their carbon emissions (see Business action on climate change). Dupont and British Petroleum left in 1997, Shell Oil (US) in 1998, Ford in 1999, and DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, and Texaco in 2000.
A major scientific report on the severity of global warming by the IPCC in 2001 led to large-scale membership loss.[1]
Benjamin D. Santer, a climate change researcher, wrote: The Global Climate Coalition - a less than disinterested party - has made serious allegations regarding the scientific integrity of the Lead Authors of Chapter 8, and of the IPCC process itself."[3]
The organization closed in 2002, or in their own words, 'deactivated'.[2]
In April 2009, the New York Times reported on a document revealed in court as part of a lawsuit. The document demonstrated that "even as the coalition worked to sway opinion, its own scientific and technical experts were advising that the science backing the role of greenhouse gases in global warming could not be refuted."[4]
Prominent members prior to 1997 included: