In an alarming development, the US-based Heartland Institute, known for its extreme climate science denial, is expanding its influence in Europe by working with far-right EU politicians. Their aim? To sow doubt about the reality and urgency of the climate crisis, and to sabotage crucial environmental policies.
Investigations reveal that over the past two years, Heartland representatives have been collaborating with Members of European Parliament (MEPs) from countries like Poland, Hungary and Austria. They’ve spoken in EU parliamentary sessions and coordinated campaigns against proposed climate laws, including the landmark nature restoration bill.
Their presence in Brussels and European politics is bad news. The coming years were looking difficult enough, with corporate lobby groups pushing successfully to roll back climate policies. The Heartland Institute is likely to become one of the helping hands to create a close political alliance between conservatives and the far right that will be very destructive.
Kenneth Haar, Corporate Europe Observatory
Forging Ties with the Far-Right
Heartland first made inroads with rightwing MEPs in early 2023, when far-right Austrian politicians from the anti-migration Freedom Party (FPÖ) attended the think tank’s climate denial conference in Florida. Soon after, Heartland’s president James Taylor was welcomed to speak at the EU parliament by those same MEPs.
This opened doors for Taylor to connect with like-minded Hungarian politicians and coordinate efforts to undermine environmental legislation like the nature restoration law. When Hungary briefly withdrew support, a key vote on the bill was delayed.
Spreading Disinformation, Empowering Polluters
Heartland’s tactics involve spreading disinformation to cast doubt on established climate science and the need for urgent action. In Poland, Taylor met with leaders from heavy industry, agriculture and a top university to deliver a presentation sowing skepticism.
He also forged an alliance with Poland’s Solidarity union, which is fighting to keep the country’s coal mines open. Together they signed a declaration baselessly claiming that climate action is unscientific and meant to provoke fear.
- Derailing climate laws to protect polluting industries
- Exploiting economic anxieties to undermine support for green policies
- Enabling the far-right’s anti-science, anti-climate agenda
Dangerous Revival of Denialism
Environmental advocates and Green politicians are sounding the alarm about Heartland’s expanding presence in Europe. They accuse some MEPs of “rolling out the red carpet for climate deniers” and betraying citizens who expect representatives to protect them from climate disasters.
At this point in time we should be scared that we will see a revival of grotesque climate denialism.
Kenneth Haar, Corporate Europe Observatory
As the Heartland Institute sets up shop in London and boasts about fomenting dissent against climate action across the EU, the fight ahead to secure science-based policies that protect people and planet grows even more critical. Politicians who welcome these merchants of doubt are putting us all at risk.
