On The Eve Of The Buenos Aires Global Warming Conference:

MRC Releases Primer for Reporters
Covering Climate Change
Special Report Exposes Common Myths, Provides Media With Credible Sources Who Have A Free Market Perspective

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- On the eve of next week's U.N. international global warming conference which gets underway this coming Monday, November 2nd in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Media Research Center is releasing a special report advising reporters on how to provide balanced, fair and accurate coverage on the issue of global warming. The special report, authored by the MRC's Free Market Project Director Timothy Lamer, provides reporters with five important points to remember along with 15 credible sources who will articulate the free market side of the issue, plus web sites and books giving the free market perspective as well.

"There is a lot of misinformation about climate change flowing through the establishment media. It's the result of junk science that environmental extremists use to paint a distorted picture. What we're doing is providing a resource for reporters who want to present a fair, balanced and accurate perspective on the issue," Lamer said.

The Five Important Points For Global Warming Stories

1 - Many Scientists are Skeptical of Climate Change Theories. Nearly 17,000 scientists have signed a petition stating that "there is no convincing scientific evidence" of catastrophic global warming, and that limits on greenhouse gas emissions would "damage the health and welfare of mankind."

2 - A Warmer Earth may be a Prosperous Earth. Economists point out that mankind flourished during the two periods in human history that were warmer than today. "Spending money to avoid better weather makes little sense," writes Fred Singer of the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

3 - The Kyoto Protocol Will Not Substantially Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Worldwide. While the agreement at last year's international climate conference in Kyoto, Japan entails radical reductions in America's energy use, developing countries are exempt. Since their emissions keep growing, the treaty won't reduce overall gas emissions.

4 - Global Warming Policies Would Harm the U.S. Economy and American Consumers. Negotiators in Kyoto agreed to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions dramatically. Such a reduction would reduce per-capita income and cause hundreds of thousands of job losses. Tighter federal fuel economy standards would also mean more fatalities on American roads.

5 - The Kyoto Protocol Could Undermine U.S. National Security and Global Economic Health. If the U.S. military isn't exempted from greenhouse gas restrictions, then its readiness will be harmed. If it is exempted, then more stringent restrictions may be forced on others in the U.S. Also, an already reeling global financial system could hardly afford a Kyoto-induced contraction of the U.S. economy.

Sources Who Have a Free Market Perspective on Climate Change

Point 1:
Sallie Baliunas, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, (202)-296-9655
Patrick Michaels, University of Virginia, (804)-924-7761 
S. Fred Singer, Science and Environmental Policy Project, (703)-503-5064

Point 2:
Thomas Gale Moore, Hoover Institution, (650)-723-1754
Fred Smith, Competitive Enterprise Institute, (202)-331-1010
Jeffrey Salmon, George Marshall Institute, (202)-296-9655

Point 3: 
Angela Antonelli, Heritage Foundation, (202)-546-4400
H. Sterling Burnett, National Center for Policy Analysis, (972)-386-6272
David Ridenour, National Center for Public Policy Research, (202)-543-1286

Point 4: 
Jonathan Adler, Competitive Enterprise Institute, (202)-331-1010
Alexander Annett, Heritage Foundation (202)-546-4400
Fran Smith, Consumer Alert, (202)-467-5809

Point 5:
Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy, (202)-466-0515
Marlo Lewis, Competitive Enterprise Institute, (202)-331-1010
Joel Bucher, Citizens for a Sound Economy, (202)-780-3870