Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Finance, funds and markets · United States · 2003–2015

Scientist Willie Soon received over USD 1 million from fossil fuel interests

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

InsideClimate News reported that Willie Soon received more than USD 1 million from fossil fuel interests from 2003 to 2015, including USD 409,754 from Southern Company. The sources reviewed do not describe the effect of this funding on climate research or nature.

What?
Willie Soon received more than USD 1 million from fossil fuel interests from 2003 to 2015, InsideClimate News reported. InsideClimate News
Where?
United States; Harvard-Smithsonian was Soon's institution. InsideClimate News
When?
2003 to 2015. InsideClimate News
Who?
Gained
  • Willie Soon — Received more than USD 1 million from fossil fuel interests, 2003–2015 InsideClimate News
  • Southern Company — Gave USD 409,754 and was given the right to review Soon's papers before publication InsideClimate News
Lost
None on record
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Payments were reported to funders as deliverables from his peer-reviewed papers, with Southern Company given pre-publication review rights. InsideClimate News
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

InsideClimate News reported in February 2015 that Willie Soon, of Harvard-Smithsonian, received more than USD 1 million from fossil fuel interests between 2003 and 2015.

The same report says USD 409,754 came from Southern Company.

According to InsideClimate News, Soon reported his peer-reviewed papers to funders as deliverables, and Southern Company was given the right to review papers before publication.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The sources reviewed do not name the other fossil fuel donors that make up the balance of the more than USD 1 million.
    • None on record The sources reviewed do not describe the content of the funded papers or their use in climate policy.
    • None on record The sources reviewed do not describe effects on nature.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

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