{"id":55013,"date":"2020-02-11T10:18:33","date_gmt":"2020-02-11T09:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/?p=55013"},"modified":"2020-10-20T08:44:08","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T07:44:08","slug":"the-heartland-lobby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/en\/top-stories\/2020\/02\/11\/the-heartland-lobby\/","title":{"rendered":"The Heartland Lobby"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"55013\" class=\"elementor elementor-55013 elementor-53961\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6f4fad63 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6f4fad63\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"stickyhead\" 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target=\"blank\">DONATE<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fe25a2d elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"fe25a2d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70234d22\" data-id=\"70234d22\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fa28f9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5fa28f9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67fea645 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"67fea645\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n<section id=\"section05\" class=\"demo\">\n  <a href=\"#text\"><span><\/span><\/a>\n<\/section>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-604555e elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"604555e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-201046b8\" data-id=\"201046b8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1edd808d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1edd808d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA joint investigation from <a style=\"color: white; border-bottom: 2px solid #ff5064;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.correctiv.org\/en\" target=\"blank\">CORRECTIV<\/a> and <a style=\"color: white; border-bottom: 2px solid #ff5064;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zdf.de\/politik\/frontal-21\/undercover-bei-klimawandel-leugnern-100.html\" target=\"blank\">Frontal21<\/a> reveals how the American <em>Heartland Institute<\/em> is supporting climate change deniers in Germany with the goal of undermining climate protection measures. We went undercover to meet with the institute\u2019s chief strategist. He told us how the network of climate change deniers works, how donations are disguised and how they intend to use a German YouTuber affiliated with the AfD to reach young people. In the end, he made us a concrete offer.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c3fa0c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"7c3fa0c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n<section id=\"section05\" class=\"demo\">\n  <a href=\"#text\"><span><\/span><\/a>\n<\/section>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c8c5f9c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2c8c5f9c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-32057d3c\" data-id=\"32057d3c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-656e0b03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"656e0b03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"55038\" class=\"elementor elementor-55038\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b53a060 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b53a060\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-391edbd\" data-id=\"391edbd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62e9db4 capital elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62e9db4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortly before the crucial conversation, shortly before Heartland\u2019s chief strategist tells us how it\u2019s all orchestrated, we sit together, some enjoying steaks. The German lobbyist and YouTuber, Heartland\u2019s chief strategist from America, a British lord and Trump\u2019s former security advisor are all present.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s the evening of Dec. 3, 2019. The location: Madrid, in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel. Gray marble flooring, expensive furniture high columns. A few kilometers away, heads of states and governments are negotiating at the World Climate Conference on how the global rise in temperature can be curbed.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are tracking an international network of climate change deniers, ranging from conservative American billionaires to the German AfD. We want to understand their links and strategies. We tried to get the information by going through the normal channels, but we failed. There was only one way to get into the inner circle: We had to go undercover. That\u2019s why we\u2019re sitting at this table \u2013 and that\u2019s why we\u2019re nervous.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-416685a elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"416685a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"text\" class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11f3176 longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11f3176\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We keep checking the hidden cameras, one of them in Katarina\u2019s pen, which she\u2019s wearing on her conference blazer. We try to keep the cameras stable while acting naturally and making small talk.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The people around the table consider the negotiations at the Climate Conference nonsense \u2013 yet they have come to Madrid to meet in the shadows of the World Climate Conference with an international lobby of climate change deniers .<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their goal: to spread doubt about human responsibility for current global warming. Their opponents are anyone who recognize this responsibility: politicians, activists, journalists and climate researchers.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CORRECTIV reporters Jean and Katarina are not at the table. Instead, meet Mathias and Karina, two public relations consultants who work for a strategic communications agency in Berlin. We pretend to probe for potential donor opportunities for our clients in the automotive industry and energy sector, who want to anonymously support the work of climate deniers with money. Big money.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f9d3db elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f9d3db\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c0d71e\" data-id=\"6c0d71e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e58f26 newsletter-breaker elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"8e58f26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"font-family:source sans pro; font-size:18px; margin: 0 0 15px; text-align:center\"><i style=\"color:#ff5064;\" class=\"fas fa-envelope\"><\/i>&nbsp; <strong>Get on the list<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"mc_embed_signup\">\n<form action=\"https:\/\/correctiv.us12.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=74b23e1b0af8c36eb217e01c1&amp;id=6c6f27383d\" method=\"post\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" target=\"_blank\" novalidate>\n    <div id=\"mc_embed_signup_scroll\">\n\t\n\t<input type=\"email\" value=\"\" name=\"EMAIL\" class=\"email\" id=\"mce-EMAIL\" placeholder=\"email address\" required>\n    <!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->\n    <div style=\"position: absolute; left: -5000px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"b_74b23e1b0af8c36eb217e01c1_6c6f27383d\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"clear\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe\" class=\"button\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<style>\n\n\t@media (max-width: 768px) {\n.mc-field-group {\n    display: block !important;\n}\n\n.newsletter-breaker p {\n  font-size:16px !important; 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font-size:16px; padding-bottom:10px; font-weight:bold;}\n#mc_embed_signup .clear {display: inline-block;} \/* positions button horizontally in line with input *\/\n#mc_embed_signup .button {font-family: Source Sans Pro; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 13px; border: none; -webkit-border-radius: 30px; -moz-border-radius: 30px; border-radius: 30px; letter-spacing: .03em; color: #fff; background-color: #1E4664; box-sizing:border-box; height:40px; line-height:32px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; display: inline-block; margin: 0; transition: all 0.23s ease-in-out 0s; vertical-align: middle;}\n#mc_embed_signup .button:hover {background-color:#777; cursor:pointer;}\n#mc_embed_signup div#mce-responses {float:left; top:-1.4em; padding:0em .5em 0em .5em; overflow:hidden; width:90%;margin: 0 5%; clear: both;}\n#mc_embed_signup div.response {margin:1em 0; padding:1em .5em .5em 0; font-weight:bold; float:left; top:-1.5em; z-index:1; width:80%;}\n#mc_embed_signup #mce-error-response {display:none;}\n#mc_embed_signup #mce-success-response {color:#529214; display:none;}\n#mc_embed_signup label.error {display:block; float:none; width:auto; margin-left:1.05em; text-align:left; padding:.5em 0;}\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n    #mc_embed_signup input.email {width:100%; margin-bottom:5px;}\n    #mc_embed_signup .clear {display: block; width: 100% }\n    #mc_embed_signup .button {width: 100%; margin:0; }\n}\n\n\t\n\t\n<\/style>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3608930 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3608930\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dcef0c3\" data-id=\"dcef0c3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be5ca0a longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be5ca0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The New Right, particularly the AfD, put the fight against climate protection high on their agenda last year. They continue to fight against young activists like Greta Thunberg and present themselves as the defender of the diesel car. Former AfD leader Alexander Gauland recently proclaimed that climate change was a new key topic for his party: \u201cCriticism of the so-called climate protection policy is the third major issue for the AfD after the Euro and Immigration\u201d. It is a polarizing topic.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AfD relies on an international network of climate change deniers. Here, in the hotel lobby, many of the key players have gathered. One of them is EIKE, aopaque German association that provides politicians with arguments against climate protection. We want to learn as much about them as possible, but we can\u2019t be too pushy. We need to play our roles, discreetly and firmly. We can\u2019t get busted.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At some point Mathias gets up and speaks to James Taylor, chief strategist and director of climate policy at the Heartland Institute, a libertarian thinktank based in the US. We suspect many of the threads that we\u2019ve been following will convene at Taylor. If we want to learn how this network spreads doubts about human-induced climate change, we need to talk to him.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mathias politely asks if he has a moment for a question.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor understands: It\u2019s time for business.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They get up and head to a seating area a few meters away. It\u2019s not completely isolated, but sufficiently enough that nobody can eavesdrop. While walking, Mathias starts to explain:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI have a client.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the next half hour, Taylor shares the inner workings of his disinformation toolbox. He believes that Mathias, the PR agent sitting opposite him, wants to help his clients funnel cash into the intricate network of climate change deniers.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor explains how he is able to raise awareness of topics in exchange for money, how people can make tax-deductible donations anonymously through a U.S. foundation, and how the Institute\u2019s publications mimic the tone of the New York Times so obscure ideas are taken more seriously. He detailed how he intends to make a young YouTuber from Germany the star of climate denier, and how he works closely with German partners whose ideas are consistently cited by the AfD in the Bundestag.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then a few weeks later, Taylor will send an offer in writing. It is something like a strategy document for a PR campaign in Germany: A campaign that the public will not recognize for what it really is, making it even more effective.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal: No more prohibitive climate laws. Diesel instead of electric cars, energy from coal instead of wind turbines, industry growth instead of environmental protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The document, a product of our joint investigation with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zdf.de\/politik\/frontal-21\/undercover-bei-klimawandel-leugnern-100.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>ZDF Frontal21<\/em><\/a>, gives exclusive insight into the million euro business of climate change deniers. It proves how disinformation is professionally scattered around society with the help of supposed experts, corrupt scientists, intentional spin and YouTube.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-09031d5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"09031d5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1472163\" data-id=\"1472163\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fc18e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3fc18e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f4659b elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"0f4659b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f0506e7\" data-id=\"f0506e7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50a4157 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"50a4157\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/kampf-gegen-wissenschaft2.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/kampf-gegen-wissenschaft2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8309dbc elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8309dbc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e935351\" data-id=\"e935351\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb3392c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eb3392c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Fight <br>Against Science<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20d1109 longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"20d1109\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a worldwide consensus among climate researchers that climate change is largely caused by humans. Hundreds of climate researchers regularly evaluate the current state of scientific knowledge in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Their forecasts are conservative, yet dramatic.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change deniers are disputing the results of the IPCC \u2013 supposedly based on the same methods. They call themselves \u201cclimate skeptics\u201d or \u201cclimate realists\u201d and conduct scientific studies to cast doubt on human-induced climate change. They write papers and magazines, organize conferences and dedicate time to lobbying. They are waging an information war to disseminate doubts about human-induced climate change.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it were up to them, then their self-proclaimed \u201cscience\u201c would be confronting science. Thus, the question of whether human-induced global warming actually exists would be a question of opinion \u2013 with good arguments on both sides.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, hardly any climate researchers or scientists agree with them. The facts speak clearly.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe communication practiced by the Heartland Institute has nothing to do with science. These are definitely politically motivated statements,\u201d said Kathleen Mar, a scientist at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the US there is a traditional belief that competition and continued growth are good for the economy. It is a mindset fundamentally intertwined with the rejection of state intervention in such economic matters. Libertarian think tanks like the Heartland Institute &#8212; financed by the foundations of wealthy entrepreneurs like the Mercer family and, until a few years ago, the Koch brothers \u2013 are founded in this tradition. In Germany, this current of opinion is relatively small. But it is getting louder when it comes to the topic of human-induced climate change.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AfD is using the frustration over climate policy to gain momentum. It\u2019s a good topic for populist politics, given that policies meant to halt climate change often involve placing restrictions that threaten personal comfort: less driving, less garbage production, less meat consumption, less travel. The AfD is increasingly using the arguments of climate change deniers at the EIKE association by inviting representatives to technical conferences and Bundestag committees. But the spin doctors are somewhere else.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-51fd62f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"51fd62f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dacdd23\" data-id=\"dacdd23\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38786d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"38786d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-afc6828 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"afc6828\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c88736a\" data-id=\"c88736a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1f6975 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"c1f6975\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/undercover.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/undercover2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e211721 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e211721\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-73a55a0\" data-id=\"73a55a0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc145ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fc145ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">There Is No Other Choice <br>But To Work Undercover<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b88d5e6 longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b88d5e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We wanted to understand the extent of the climate change denial network, exactly how it\u2019s funded, and how it\u2019s members think and work. So we started our investigation by looking into climate change deniers in Germany. We made the decision to go undercover because we believed it was the only way to get authentic insight. CORRECTIV is well known among the German EIKE association, as their publications regularly fail our fact checks \u2013 and they frequently publish furious counter-articles. In 2018, a journalist at CORRECTIV was banned from participating in one of EIKE\u2019s conferences when she tried to obtain press credentials. Also that year, the head of EIKE violently threatened a reporter from the ARD magazine, Monitor. We carefully weighed our decision. In the end it was clear to us that we would not get very far following the typical path.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So we built our undercover identities: Karina and Mathias, two PR agents who, on behalf of a client from the automobile industry, wanted to learn how to send money to climate change deniers in Germany \u2013discretely, without attracting attention.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We create a fictional agency called \u201cFaidros\u201d, printed business cards to reinforce our fake identities, got a second pair of cellphones with new numbers and set up a website. We pretended to be experienced consultants who increase public awareness of climate-skeptical arguments on behalf of industrial clients.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our undercover journey started in Munich. To be able to participate in an EIKE conference as private individuals, we paid 220 euros each to the association. We used PayPal because it allows you to change your name without being immediately exposed by online searches. Then we received an email confirming that the money had arrived and the venue would soon be announced. A cumbersome way to organize a conference.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b986101 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b986101\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a40516\" data-id=\"0a40516\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad1f9e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ad1f9e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f5efda5 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"f5efda5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-818cce0\" data-id=\"818cce0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e6770f elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"7e6770f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/muenchen2.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/madrid5.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f8b3dd9 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f8b3dd9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e7cc8b6\" data-id=\"e7cc8b6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-553c349 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"553c349\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">An Invitation <br>to Madrid<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5192ddc longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5192ddc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Munich, late November. The tables are organized in long rows. A desk and a large screen are in front. Roughly 250 people walk through the entrance hall of the closed Munich-Riem Airfield, the so-called Coat of Arms Hall. They are mostly older men, some with doctorates or professorships, many of them already retired. We stand among them, equipped with business cards, wearing conference clothing and hidden cameras. We are significantly younger than the average attendee. Karina is a woman under 30. We stand out.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EIKE\u2019s annual conference had almost been canceled. After protests, the contract between the original hotel and EIKE was terminated. But shortly before the planned start, we received an email with the new venue.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EIKE stands for \u201cEurop\u00e4isches Institut f\u00fcr Klima und Energie\u201d (European Institute for Climate and Energy). Many channels of self-proclaimed \u201cclimate realists\u201d meet at this association in Germany, which states on its website that human-induced climate change is a \u201choax affecting the general public\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like Heartland, the non-profit organization claims to be a scientific think tank and advertises its online studies as \u201cpeer reviewed\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey take scientific terms and misuse them for political purposes. They are not interested in scientific work at all,\u201d said Potsdam sustainability researcher Mar about the self-appointed climate experts. \u201cI would immediately ask myself who these scientists are, what their qualifications are.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holger Thuss, the chairman of EIKE who threatened the Monitor\u2019s reporter last year, kicked off the Munich conference. He set the framework for the conference by saying climate protests have assumed \u201cterrorist proportions\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then we saw James Taylor, the chief strategist of the Heartland Institute, for the first time. He went on stage in good spirits to give a lecture. He looks like a company manager, slightly stocky, black hair pulled back, ironed shirt, a smile on his lips. A smart man with a meaty American accent, and an engaging speaker. Standing on the stage, he congratulates everyone for making it to the conference and says that the original hotel\u2019s cancellation is encroachment on freedom of expression.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor is a successful lobbyist and spin doctor who says of himself that he is more libertarian than conservative. He considers hostility to be praise for his work. Taylor also appears frequently on American television, and for some time he wrote a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/consent\/?toURL=https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/jamestaylor\/#46e29ab3499b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">column in Forbes magazine<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the next two days, the group of almost exclusively white men present scientific-looking graphs, diagrams and tables. There are those who consider themselves to be on the side of science, presenting their methods, explaining, arguing and evaluating series of experiments.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And then there are the conspiracy theorists, the esotericists and the ultra-religious. A man sitting next to us in the audience says it is contempt of God to judge whether something God created is good or bad. He was talking about CO2.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EIKE was founded in 2007 and has close ties to the AfD. Michael Limburg, the organization\u2019s vice-president, is employed by the office of Karsten Hilse, a member of the German Parliament, the Bundestag. He confirmed this to CORRECTIV. Limburg is an AfD member himself, and he participated in drafting of the AfD\u2019s party program on climate policy as well as ran for the Bundestag in 2017 on the Brandenburg state list.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-154eb85 elementor-hidden-phone elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"154eb85\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f6b919\" data-id=\"5f6b919\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6fa975 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e6fa975\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;_animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-55043\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-EN-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a003841 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a003841\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Transatlantic Network<\/strong> Over the past 20 years, the Heartland Institute has received funds from various companies and wealthy families<br \/>in the United States for the purpose of denying the climate change. It has also helped EIKE to spread its ideas in Germany.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-13b45f9 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"13b45f9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a4c81fa\" data-id=\"a4c81fa\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09ae257 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"09ae257\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;_animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"1456\" src=\"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-mobile-en.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-55059\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-mobile-en.jpg 750w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-mobile-en-600x1165.jpg 600w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/infographic-mobile-en-400x777.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7285dbb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7285dbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>The Transatlantic Network<\/strong> Over the past 20 years, the Heartland Institute has received funds from various companies and wealthy families in the United States for the purpose of denying the climate change. It has also helped EIKE to spread its ideas in Germany.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6330682 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6330682\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e6f0d94\" data-id=\"e6f0d94\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0ce7c5 longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d0ce7c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police officer Karsten Hilse sits on the environmental committee of the Bundestag on behalf of the AfD. He gave a speech in the Bundestag in March 2018. At the time, while being laughed at by members of other government parties, he declared war on the \u201cfalse doctrine of human-induced climate change\u201d. A year later, he distributed leaflets that contained a quiz to demonstrators of \u201cFridays for Future\u201d, who he intended to embarrass.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hans-Joachim L\u00fcdecke, EIKE\u2019s press officer, wrote an expert statement for the environmental committee at the invitation of the AfD. Now, members of EIKE\u2019s entourage are writing for a new wave of right publications such as \u201cFreie Welt\u201d (Free World). The blog is run by the right-wing association \u201cZivile Koalition\u201d (Civil Coalition), which is led by the deputy federal spokeswoman for the AfD, Beatrix von Storch.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We asked members of EIKE what kind of relationship the association has with the Heartland Institute. Michael Limburg, EIKE\u2019s Vice-President, answered in writing: \u201cWe maintain a good relationship based on similar interests.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the conference, we invited Heartland lobbyist Taylor to dinner. We talked about his Institute, which is based in Chicago with just 40 employees.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While making small talk, Taylor explains that he knows how to convince people: \u201cI think I present the actual logic, but people aren&#8217;t motivated by an actual logic. So you have to go and argue emotions.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things are going smoothly and we indicate our reason for meeting with him without revealing too much. We are successful, too: At the end of the evening we receive an invitation. In 10 days, climate change deniers will meet once again on the sidelines of the World Climate Conference in Madrid. The organizer of the counter-conference is the Heartland Institute.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOur event will take place on December 3,\u201d said Taylor. \u201cWe have eight or nine speakers and a five-hour program.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next stop for these consultants from \u201cFaidros\u201d: Madrid.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-85d31fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"85d31fd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-17294a0\" data-id=\"17294a0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b916dc5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"b916dc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b192ef4 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"b192ef4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-06f4b6d\" data-id=\"06f4b6d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01fdc4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"01fdc4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/madrid.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/leugner-unter-sich.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4599938 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4599938\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a2065ca\" data-id=\"a2065ca\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6177690 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6177690\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Denial Lobbyists <br>Among Themselves<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bed72ef longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bed72ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cClimate Reality Forum\u201d takes place on the first floor of the Marriott Hotel in Madrid, a small room with suspended ceilings. There are about 20 people, half of whom will give lectures today. Water in tetra packs with an environmental seal are on the tables.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conference is significantly smaller than the one in Munich. It is shorter, without journalists, and the Heartland Institute does the filming and online streaming itself with two large cameras. The World Climate Conference was originally scheduled to take place in Chile, but a month earlier the Chilean President cancelled it due to protests against social inequality that took place throughout the capital city, Santiago de Chile. Climate change deniers also had to reschedule, rebook flights and hastily organize a new conference.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We met some acquaintances from Munich and greeted each other amicably. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see you again,\u201d said one of the few women in the room. She is a YouTube influencer, 19 years old and blonde. Later on we would learn that she is supposed to become the star of the scene.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the speakers is William Happer, professor emeritus of physics and former security advisor to US President Donald Trump. In 2015, a team from Greenpeace, disguised as an oil and gas company, asked Happer to write a scientific paper to prove the benefits of high CO2 emissions for plants. <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.greenpeace.de\/artikel\/aufgedeckt-wie-sich-us-professoren-von-der-kohleindustrie-kaufen-lassen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Happer, then a professor at Princeton University, agreed \u2013 for an hourly rate of $250<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know how far this shrillness will get,\u201d said Happer, visibly aged, in Madrid. \u201cFirst global warming, then climate change and now climate crisis and climate emergency \u2013 what else?\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">German climate change deniers are also present. Wolfgang M\u00fcller, Secretary General of EIKE, praised the Heartland Institute before his lecture: \u201cHeartland is a paragon in the fight against this climate madness.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2007\/may\/06\/observerreview.climatechange\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christopher Monckton<\/a>, an English lord residing in the Scottish Highlands, speaks later. Monckton advised neoliberal British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s \u2013 and does the same today for the British right-wing populist party UKIP. His suggestions include asking to quarantine people who are HIV positive. Monckton is a dazzling character, always polite and eloquent, who happens to also represents some of the crudest beliefs. On stage he pretends to give a speech to country representatives at the World Climate Conference. The delegates, he says, promote a cult of death through their ignorance. \u201cEverything on which this conference in Madrid is based is fundamentally wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few hours later, when the conference is over, Lord Monckton sits contentedly at the grand piano in the hotel lobby, playing a few songs. The other speakers sit a few meters away, ordering drinks and snacks to their table.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We sit in between, asking questions, laughing, answering without getting too personal. Secretly, we check the undercover cameras we are carrying with us.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The YouTuber talks about studying economics in M\u00fcnster: She stopped because the program was too socialist for her. She also says that she is going to work for the Heartland Institute soon.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The YouTuber did not respond to a request for comment after the conversation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later at the bar, Karina met Debbie, who introduces herself as a cattle rancher from the States. After a while Debbie pulls a pen out of her pocket and points to the hidden camera at the end. She says she intends to secretly film people at the official UN Climate Conference. \u201cYou have no idea about what people will tell you if they don\u2019t know who you are.\u201d The pen is the same model, even the same color as the pen tucked into Karina\u2019s blazer pocket.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ac67313 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ac67313\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-662fbc8\" data-id=\"662fbc8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-521ae73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"521ae73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fe5753c elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"fe5753c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ed1f36\" data-id=\"1ed1f36\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be77c0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"be77c0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/taylor2.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/taylor2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d51e1eb elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d51e1eb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-00e406b\" data-id=\"00e406b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a93ab8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a93ab8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Moment of Truth<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4501d1d longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4501d1d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, Mathias asks Taylor for a private meeting. This is the moment we have been working for over the past few weeks. Taylor sits relaxed in the armchair, his white shirt unbuttoned at the top, with a glass of red wine in his hand.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business talk.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the start, Mathias directs the conversation towards the possibility of donating to groups that deny climate change anonymously. His client, he says, is interested in a long-term investment &#8212; but requires that under no circumstances can he be linked to the transactions.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the donor does not want to be named, there are some groups in the US, Taylor says. \u201cOne is Donors Trust.\u201d You can tell them which group the money should go to \u2013 Donors Trust will then channel the funds.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donors Trust\u2019s activities are not illegal, but they do bypass the otherwise quite extensive transparency regulations in the US. Both Donors Trust and Donors Capital Trust are tax-exempt foundations that redistribute corporate donations to conservative and market-liberal think tanks. US tax law requires them to disclose to whom the funds are given. However, they are allowed to keep the name of the donor undisclosed on the grounds of anonymous. In practice, this means oil and coal companies can support anti-climate campaigns via Donors Trust or Donors Capital without having to reveal their financial support.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the past, big players in the fossil industry like Exxon Mobil and Koch brothers were among Heartland\u2019s major donors &#8212; but they <a href=\"https:\/\/unearthed.greenpeace.org\/2019\/05\/14\/germany-climate-denial-populist-eike-afd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">withdrew public support a few years ago<\/a>. We checked this by looking at tax returns, which are largely public in the US.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, Donors Trust is now one of the association\u2019s biggest donors. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motherjones.com\/politics\/2013\/02\/donors-trust-donor-capital-fund-dark-money-koch-bradley-devos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The American magazine \u201cMother Jones\u201d described Donors Trust in 2013 as a \u201cBlack Box ATM\u201d<\/a>. You could say that the foundation lends its name to the actual donors. Taylor confirmed this during the conversation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donors Trust is now directing between two thirds and three quarters of its budget to Heartland to support its climate-skeptical positions, says Taylor. He sells this as his personal doing.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soon after, Taylor starts to speak about the German YouTuber sitting at the table a few meters away.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe&#8217;re looking to bring her on board,\u201d says Taylor, pointing in her direction.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mathias asks: \u201cThe young lady?\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTo do some videos for us. Presenting to young people.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The young influencer is to start forming new groups. She should be a dropout from mainstream society, with whom as many as young people as possible should identify. According to a Facebook post by the Rhineland-Palatinate Association of \u201cJunge Alternative\u201d (Young Alternative), she is a member of the AfD\u2019s youth organization. The AfD and its members regularly distribute her videos. Taylor says the fight against climate protection measures needs a better image, to move away from old white men and instead showcase a younger generation. The YouTuber is going be the new face of the movement. She is Taylor\u2019s media strategy for the masses.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor also knows how to reach those who are not on YouTube but do vote in parliament. For a long time, he published a monthly brochure that the Heartland Institute sent to politicians.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He says it was specifically written \u201cWe do it as if it were for The New York Times or any other leftist newspaper.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He explains that the rule for their editors is to write it as if they were news stories. They cannot write anything that looks like it is opinion. \u201cYou present our angle on it, but you do it by who you decide to quote\u201d, he says&#8221;.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor\u2019s team uses supposedly journalistic standards to raise doubts about human-induced climate change. What he is not interested is rigor and balance.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And he succeeds at that, or at least that\u2019s what he says. There are people who will realise it is Heartland how is writing these articles, he explains, but others feel it is something they could use, and this is how they get to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor repeatedly emphasizes the good work done by EIKE. He says it is amazing what they can do in a year with such a small budget, and claims that the organization has 200,000 euros available. They help each other, he says, by participating in each other\u2019s conferences. Heartland also gave EIKE a small sum of money for the Munich conference in late November. When asked about EIKE\u2019s budget, the organization\u2019s representatives said that their \u201cdonation volume\u201d per year is \u201csignificantly below the stated amount\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But whenever Mathias steers the conversation toward our client\u2019s possible investment, Taylor brings his own institution into play &#8212; even though Mathias emphasizes several times that the client wants to donate to EIKE because he is mostly concerned about the European market.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThen he tries to convince me to give my client\u2019s money directly to Heartland, instead of EIKE\u201c, Mathias recalls. Taylor politely adds that EIKE could, of course, use it much better in Europe. Then, a few seconds later, he talks about the benefits of Heartland establishing and disseminating specific information at the request of the client in exchange for money.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A half hour has passed. Taylor and Mathias promise to stay in touch before returning to the other conference goers. Mathias writes down the conversation so he can jog his memory later.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is far more than we had hoped for. Taylor has given us a deep insight into the business of climate change deniers. We now know about some of the strategies they use to disseminate disinformation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But we want to have it in writing.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a27b6b6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a27b6b6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-61bbf52\" data-id=\"61bbf52\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df8cba3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"df8cba3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-57ed526 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"57ed526\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e5a5061\" data-id=\"e5a5061\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2017227 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"2017227\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/anruf2.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/anruf2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8eefe2d elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8eefe2d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d45cc7d\" data-id=\"d45cc7d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-260baef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"260baef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Phone Call<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb32dc9 longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb32dc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few weeks later, we call Taylor for a follow-up. How does Taylor intend to get into business in Germany? Would it even be possible to purchase content as a donor?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We mention our client from the auto industry and bring up the current diesel bans in Germany and the growing popularity of electric cars, which are hurting his business.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, Taylor advertises the 19-year-old YouTuber as a promising social media strategy in Germany.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mathias asks: Can his client decide what she says in her videos?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor hesitates, but doesn\u2019t say no. Of course, she would have to agree with and feel comfortable with what is going to be said. And he\u2019s pretty sure that everyone involved wants the same thing.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mathias: \u201cPerhaps we could agree on certain buzzwords. Disseminate certain information.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor: \u201cAbsolutely. Key points, keywords, the way to present something.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Content in exchange for money. It\u2019s like a deal in the advertising industry. The only difference is that the content is political.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor thinks he\u2019s in business with Mathias. Shortly after our phone call, we text Taylor to send us a written offer to convince our client.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He agrees.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b254361 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b254361\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c423dee\" data-id=\"c423dee\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a39d3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8a39d3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6747693 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"6747693\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-962fcf0\" data-id=\"962fcf0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c5fa66 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1c5fa66\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/proposal2.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/mail2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d94f7a2 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d94f7a2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-00cc8cb\" data-id=\"00cc8cb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8aafbca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8aafbca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Two Hours Later: <br>The Offer<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d11ed4 longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d11ed4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The document arrives via email, just two hours after our conversation. It\u2019s three pages long, with the title: \u201cFunding Proposal: Germany Environmental Issues\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the proposal, Taylor summarizes what we discussed over the phone \u2013 and goes into even more detail. He outlines a plan for a possible campaign against climate protection policies in Germany. It\u2019s an immoral offer formulated in the advertising language of a pitch. Recognize the problem, present the solution.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He describes German climate policy as \u201cunwise\u201d. Conventional power plants could be closed and replaced by expensive, unreliable wind turbine systems. Diesel vehicles could be banned. \u201cThese restrictive environmental programs are largely unnecessary&#8221;, says the proposal. Even worse: Other countries would be negatively impacted by Germany, which is often viewed as a pioneer.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor suggests that the Heartland Institute instead draws attention to projects that \u201craise German living standards through common-sense environmental stewardship.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For climate change deniers, this means one thing: As few environmental protection measures as possible.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor uses the same language utilized by Heartland and EIKE, the same language pushed by climate change deniers on social media and also by the AfD in the Bundestag: Climate alarmists are thoughtless and hysterical people who jeopardize economic growth. So, in reaction, they stand up: the climate realists, the only sensible people in the debate.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The central pillar of the German campaign is to be the AfD-affiliated YouTube influencer praised by Taylor in Madrid, \u201c(&#8230;) she is eager to direct her viewers to topics on environmental overreach that harm German households,\u201d writes Taylor. The funding will allow Heartland to equip her in such a way that she can produce a series of effective videos.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the first time, Taylor is also involving staff from his institute. Their titles and degrees are intended to ensure credibility beyond YouTube.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peter Ferrara, a graduate in economics from Harvard University and former advisor to US Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Senior, is to join the team. Ferrara can \u201c(&#8230;) research and present important information on the severe economic costs of German environmental restrictions\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor also has a plan to counter the argument that diesel car emissions are harmful to health.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To tackle this particular issue, he plans to get a physician and a biostatistician in on the plan. The two scientific professionals, Dunn and Milloy, \u201care two of the science experts Heartland would \u2013 if properly funded \u2013 like to utilize calling attention to the minimal health impacts of diesel engines, coal power plants, and other conventional energy sources&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their degrees and job descriptions will give off a supposed level of expertise.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The strategy is similar to the one used by Heartland US. Without mentioning EIKE explicitly, Taylor writes that \u201cHeartland would proactively explore opportunities to galvanize our friends and allies to advocate in conjunction with our Germany Environmental Issues project.\u201c<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taylor proposes two US trusts as payment vehicles, with confidentiality and legality guaranteed: Donors Trust and National Philanthropic Trust. \u201cDonors fund an account with the organization and then direct the organization how it would like to distribute the funds\u201d In exchange: One percent of the donated amount will be debited quarterly.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is an offer designed to be convincing. And it actually is convincing, because it shows how strategically and discreetly the climate change denier network functions. It establishes topics, tailors communication strategies and offers entire campaigns while granting the donors and masterminds complete anonymity.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the conversation, we offered the Heartland Institute the possibility to make a statement. However, they did not response to our comment.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6aa4c4d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6aa4c4d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ab97d75\" data-id=\"ab97d75\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ff8b89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8ff8b89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b6fb7f elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"5b6fb7f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2170c6d\" data-id=\"2170c6d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9b9892 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"e9b9892\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<video controlslist=\"nodownload\" autoplay=\"\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"\" data-gifv-mode=\"true\" muted=\"true\" style=\"background-color: black;\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/ende.jpg\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/influencer.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0d55145 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0d55145\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5a50c53\" data-id=\"5a50c53\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2324a0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2324a0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Influencers<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b496a5 longread elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6b496a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other people in the climate change denier network are, however, in the public eye: young influencers on YouTube as well as older men who present themselves as professionals at conferences, in interviews and in pseudo-scientific discussions.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The network of climate change deniers extends across the Atlantic and grows increasingly closer to the authorities. They use professional communication strategies, funded by anonymous donations.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heartland functions as a kind of model for its German counterpart, EIKE \u2013 even if the latter has only a fraction of the budget at its disposal. Still, under German law, EIKE does not have to disclose its finances. The association itself reports that it has \u201calmost only small and very small donors\u201d.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the US, Heartland\u2019s ideas have reached the President. In Germany, EIKE benefits from the fact that the AfD now uses climate policy for itself, framing it in the context of the euro and immigration.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heartland had already extended its hand into Europe before we went undercover. Our reporting confirms that for years, Heartland and EIKE jointly sponsored conferences, even though an EIKE spokesman said he was not aware of this when we reached out for comment. The German association is an ally to Heartland: they share the same goals and attend each other\u2019s conferences. And on Heartland\u2019s website, the chairman of EIKE, Holger Thuss, is listed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heartland.org\/about-us\/who-we-are\/holger-j-thuss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">as an \u201cexpert\u201d<\/a>. We also learned that that Heartland will run campaigns for German foundations and corporations in exchange for donations.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change denial is spreading not just in the US, but also in Germany. Members of the movement do not outright deny climate change itself, instead preferring to question whether it is the fault of man\u2019s fault, and if it even poses a serious risk. This frames their ideas as diverse, and presents the possibility that everyone else is simply hysterical. They paint their challengers as hotheads who want to introduce socialism instead of protecting individual freedoms.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, the wording of the \u201cfalse doctrine\u201d of climate change, of the hysterical and erring \u201cclimate alarmists\u201d \u2013 conceived and disseminated by institutions such as Heartland and EIKE \u2013 ends up on social media and in the Bundestag. Look no further than AfD member Karsten Hilse, who spoke of \u201cthe false doctrine of human-induced climate change\u201d \u2013 the same language used by the YouTube influencer. Numerous members of EIKE and speakers at Heartland conferences use the same rhetoric.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few weeks after the Madrid conference, a video appeared on Heartland\u2019s YouTube channel. It shows fragments from the speech given by the 19-year-old influencer at the conference in Madrid, intermittent with statements by Greta Thunberg. The video ends with a question: Who do you believe more?<\/span><\/p><p><em>Comment on this investigation on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/correctiv_org\/status\/1227216891569168385\" target=\"blank\">Twitter<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/de-de.facebook.com\/correctiv.org\/posts\/2489088491340583\" target=\"blank\">Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1a23abd5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1a23abd5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-613c0401\" data-id=\"613c0401\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2508309d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2508309d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zdf.de\/politik\/frontal-21\/heartland-lobby-engl-ut-100.html#xtor=CS5-92\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/frontal21.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-54899\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/frontal21.jpg 700w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/frontal21-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/frontal21-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c1f4bf8\" data-id=\"5c1f4bf8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a51207 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a51207\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zdf.de\/politik\/frontal-21\/heartland-lobby-engl-ut-100.html#xtor=CS5-92\">The Heartland Lobby<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f82584 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f82584\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Frontal21, 7 Min.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be7437 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"be7437\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zdf.de\/politik\/frontal-21\/undercover-bei-klimawandel-leugnern-100.html\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-angle-double-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">View<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1bebaaac elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"1bebaaac\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3ab93395\" data-id=\"3ab93395\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8c9c24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d8c9c24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">This investigation has been<br> made possible by our<br> supporters.<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79a5a4cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"79a5a4cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDonate now to support independent,<br> investigative journalism.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-252b4f0b elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"252b4f0b\" 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#mc_embed_signup .button {width: 100%; margin:0; }\n}\n\n\t\n\t\n<\/style>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5be328d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5be328d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-177789a5 credits elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"177789a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Reporting by<\/strong>: <a href=\"\/team\/katarina-huth\/\">Katarina Huth<\/a>, Jean Peters\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: bolder;\">Text<\/span>:\u00a0<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"\/team\/katarina-huth\/\">Katarina Huth<\/a>, Jean Peters,\u00a0<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/hermes-baby.de\/autorinnen-autoren\/jonas-seufert\/\">Jonas Seufert<\/a>\u00a0<strong>Video<\/strong>:\u00a0<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"\/team\/katarina-huth\/\">Katarina Huth<\/a>, Jean Peters, Philipp Schulte, Bastian Schlange\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: bolder;\">Editorial<\/span>:\u00a0<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"\/team\/olaya-argueso\/\">Olaya Arg\u00fceso<\/a>,\u00a0<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"\/team\/justus-von-daniels\/\">Justus von Daniels<\/a>\u00a0<strong>Design&amp;Production<\/strong>: <a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"\/team\/benjamin-schubert\/\">Benjamin Schubert<\/a>, Bel\u00e9n R\u00edos Falc\u00f3n <strong>Translation:<\/strong> Max Donheiser<\/p><p>Published: 11.02.2020<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-276dc6f0 vectorcredits elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"276dc6f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/de.freepik.com\/fotos-vektoren-kostenlos\/hintergrund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vector material by macrovector and vectorpouch<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DONATE A joint investigation from CORRECTIV and Frontal21 reveals how the American Heartland Institute is supporting climate change deniers in Germany with the goal of undermining climate protection measures. We went undercover to meet with the institute\u2019s chief strategist. He told us how the network of climate change deniers works, how donations are disguised and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1889,"featured_media":55018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_canvas","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[300,339],"class_list":["post-55013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories","tag-fuer-die-gesellschaft-en","tag-klima-top-recherchen-en"],"acf":{"post::topline":"","post::excerpt":"An undercover investigation from CORRECTIV reveals how the American Heartland Institute is supporting climate change deniers in Germany with the goal of undermining climate protection measures.","post::authors":[1889,1908,2172,2195],"post::related":""},"cvui_categories":[{"id":23,"name":"Top-Stories","slug":"top-stories"}],"cvui_featured_image":{"widget-post":{"url":"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/heartland-desktop-en-970x530.gif","width":970,"height":530},"list":{"url":"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/heartland-desktop-en-706x386.gif","width":706,"height":386},"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/heartland-desktop-en-220x220.gif","width":220,"height":220},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/heartland-desktop-en.gif","width":1920,"height":1080}},"cvui_featured_image_alt":"","cvui_yoast_metadesc":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Heartland Lobby - correctiv.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/correctiv.org\/top-stories\/2020\/02\/11\/the-heartland-lobby\/?lang=en\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Heartland Lobby\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"DONATE A joint investigation from CORRECTIV and Frontal21 reveals how the American Heartland Institute is supporting climate change deniers in Germany with the goal of undermining climate protection measures. We went undercover to meet with the institute\u2019s chief strategist. 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