Taylor, Geo H

<h1>=</h1><h1><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_Taylor(Oregon_State_University)">https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_Taylor(Oregon_State_University)</a></h1><h1></h1><h1>ebell says vic</h1>

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<h1>George H. Taylor</h1>

<h2> Credentials</h2>

<ul>

<li>M.S. Meteorology University of Utah, 1975</li>

<li>B.A. Mathematics U.C. Santa Barbara, 1969</li>

</ul>

Source: <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s1">[1]</a>

<h2> Background</h2>

George Taylor is a past faculty member at Oregon State University. He has become a controversial figure in Oregon, where he used the title of "State Climatologist."

Although <a target="blank" href="http://heartland.org/george-taylor">some profiles</a> list Taylor as faculty member at Oregon State University’s College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, <a target="blank" href="http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.search&searchtype=people&basic=1">a list of COAS Faculty</a> (as of February, 2012) does not include his name.

Taylor retired from his position as manager of the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University in May, 2008. <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s2">[2]</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s3">[3]</a>

The Oregon State Governor’s office has since stated that "George Taylor doesn't represent the governor's office, and he doesn't represent the state of Oregon." The same <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3142/6655/">August 2005 news article</a> reports that, "Taylor himself has supplemented his government salary with oil money." <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s4">[4]</a>

One independent investigation into Taylor's title as "Oregon State Climatologist" is documented <a target="_blank" href="http://hinessight.blogs.com/hinessight/2007/02/facts_about_geo.html">here</a>. <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s5">[5]</a>

Governor Ted Kulongoski <a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090224002916/http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_020607_news_taylor_title.59f5d04a.html">clarified</a>, "He is Oregon State University's climatologist. He is not the state of Oregon's climatologist."<a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s6"> [6]</a>

Taylor is listed as a "scientific advisor" to the <a target="blank" href="http://www.co2science.org/">Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change</a>, an organization that has <a target="blank" href="http://www.heatisonline.org/contentserver/objecthandlers/index.cfm?id=3046&method=full">received funding</a> from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=24">ExxonMobil</a> and the Western Fuels Association. <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s7">[7]</a>

Taylor has also been paid to write articles for <a target="blank" href="http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tech_Central_Station">Tech Central Station (TCS)</a>, an organization that has also <a target="blank" href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=112">received money from ExxonMobil</a>.

Until recently, TCS was run by Washington lobby/PR firm DCI Group and was <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/abc-news-gore-spoof-video-linked-to-republican-exxon-spinster">the centre of controversy</a> over a YouTube Al Gore spoof video they produced and posted under the guise of 29-year old amateur filmmaker.

<h2>Stance on Climate Change</h2>

"It's not clear that we are seeing unprecedented warming, and it's definitely untrue that any warming trend can be assigned to human activities. Natural variations in climate are much more significant than any human activities." <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s4">[4]</a>

<h2>Key Quotes</h2>

"Most of the climate change we`ve seen up until now has been as a result of natural variations." <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s8">[8]</a>

</blockquote>

<h2>Key Deeds</h2>

March, 2009

Taylor was a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.il-rs.org.br/ingles/info/det_energy.php?recordID=26">speaker</a> at the Heartland Institute's 2009 International Conference on Climate Change. <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s9">[9]</a>

DeSmogBlog <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/heartland-institutes-2009-climate-conference-new-york-funding-history-sponsors">researched the funding</a> behind the conference, and found sponsor organizations had received over $47 million from energy companies and right-wing foundations, with 78% of that total coming from the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Scaife_Foundations">Scaife Family of foundations</a>.

May 2, 2007

Appeared on Glenn Beck's May 2, 2007 special "<a target="_blank" href="http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/beck.climateoffear/">Exposed: The Climate of Fear</a>." <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s8">[8]</a>

Numerous climate skeptics were interviewed for the program including <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Marlo_Lewis">Marlo Lewis</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/tim-ball">Tim Ball</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/patrick-michaels">Patrick Michaels</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/patrick-moore">Patrick Moore</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/chris-horner">Chris Horner</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/john-christy">John Christy</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/bjorn-lomborg">Bjorn Lomborg</a>, <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/david-legates">David Legates</a>, and <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/roy-spencer">Roy Spencer</a>.

See a transcript here (<a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/GlennBeck_ClimateOfFear.pdf">PDF</a>).

2005

Controversy has followed Taylor after his use of the title of Oregon "State Climatologist."

Willamette Week reported: <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s4">[4]</a>

"Taylor's colleagues at Oregon State's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences have grown frustrated over the years with what they consider his misunderstanding of climate-change facts. On multiple occasions, faculty members found it necessary to correct statements in Taylor's regular 'Weather Matters' column in the Corvallis Gazette-Times."

Phillip Mote, the climatologist for neighboring Washington State, "surmises that Taylor is guilty of looking only at data that support his views, while discarding the rest. You can only come to that conclusion if you handpick the climate records," said Mote. He also says that, "while his Oregon counterpart is a good friend [Taylor’s] dead wrong about global warming."

The same article reported: "While Taylor holds the title of 'state climatologist,' the office of the Governor of Oregon has stated: 'The state climatologist does not speak for the governor on global warming,' says Van't Hof, Kulongoski's sustainability policy advisor. 'George Taylor doesn't represent the governor's office, and he doesn't represent the state of Oregon,' the aide says. 'The governor consistently is in favor of addressing global warming. Global warming is real and is greatly accelerated by human activity'."

November 16, 2004

Taylor is a signatory to an <a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20041207035145/http://www.maineinstitute.com/McCain_Letter.html">open letter to Senator John McCain</a> that suggests the Arctic is too "complex" to be sure that global warming is an issue that needs to be addressed.<a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s10"> [10]</a>

<h2> Affiliations</h2>

<ul>

<li>

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_the_Study_of_Carbon_Dioxide_and_Global_Change">Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change </a>— Science and Policy Advisory Board Member. <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s11">[11]</a>

</li>

<li>

<a target="blank" href="http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tech_Central_Station">Tech Central Station (TCS) </a>—<a target="blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20091019104213/http://www.techcentralstation.com/biotaylorgeorge.html"> Author</a>. <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s12">[12]</a>

</li>

<li>

<a target="blank" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heartland_Institute">The Heartland Institute </a>— "<a target="blank" href="http://heartland.org/george-taylor">Expert</a>." <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/george-taylor#s13">[13]</a>

</li>

</ul>

<h2> Publications</h2>

According to a search of Google Scholar, Taylor has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, mainly on the subject of climate in the state of Oregon.

<h2> Resources</h2>

<ol>

<li>

<a id="s1" name="s1"> </a>"<a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20040416112343/http://ocs.orst.edu/staff/gt.html">George H. Taylor</a>," Profile at Oregon Climate Service. Archived April 2, 2004 (Taylor is no longer listed on staff at OCS).

</li>

<li>

<a id="s2" name="s2"> </a>"<a target="blank" href="http://www.oceanandair.coas.oregonstate.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&pageID=182">After 19 Years at Helm of Oregon Climate Service, George Taylor Retires</a>," Ocean Air (from the College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University). Accessed February, 2012. <a target="blank" href="http://www.webcitation.org/65aBpnosM">Archived with WebCite</a>, February 19, 2012.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s3" name="s3"> </a>Jeff Wright. "<a target="_blank" href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=20080222&id=1F9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2424,4372635">Weather aficionado will leave his post for new challenges</a>," The Register-Guard, February 22, 2008.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s4" name="s4"> </a>Paul Koberstein. "<a target="blank" href="http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-4738-hot_or_not.html">HOT OR NOT</a>," Willamette Week, August 24, 2005.  <a target="blank" href="http://www.webcitation.org/65a9PPmii">Archived February 19, 2012</a> with WebCite.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s5" name="s5"> </a>"<a target="_blank" href="http://hinessight.blogs.com/hinessight/2007/02/facts_about_geo.html">Facts about George Taylor and the 'state climatologist'</a>," HinesSight, February 8, 2007.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s6" name="s6"> </a>Vince Patton. "<a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090224002916/http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_020607_news_taylor_title.59f5d04a.html">Global warming debate spurs Ore. title tiff</a>," KGW.com, February 8, 2007. Archived February 24, 2009.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s7" name="s7"> </a>"<a target="blank" href="http://www.heatisonline.org/contentserver/objecthandlers/index.cfm?id=3046&method=full">U.S. Coal Industry: Global Warming Is Good For Us</a>," The Heat Is Online, Accessed February, 2012. <a target="blank" href="http://www.webcitation.org/65a9GJauH">Archived with WebCite</a>, February 19, 2012.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s8" name="s8"> </a>CNN, Glenn Beck special "<a target="_blank" href="http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/beck.climateoffear/">Exposed: The Climate of Fear</a>," May 2, 2007.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s9" name="s9"> </a>"<a target="_blank" href="http://www.il-rs.org.br/ingles/info/det_energy.php?recordID=26">2009 International Conference on Climate Change," The Heartland Institute, February 1</a>, 2009. Republished by Instituto Liberdade.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s10" target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20041207035145/http://www.maineinstitute.com/McCain_Letter.html" name="s10">Open letter to John McCain</a>, November 16, 2004. Republished by Tech Central Station. Archived December 7, 2004.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s11" name="s11"> </a>"Scientific and Policy Advisors" (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.co2science.org/images/pdf/centerbrochure.pdf">PDF</a>), Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change brochure.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s12" name="s12"> </a>"<a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20091019104213/http://www.techcentralstation.com/biotaylorgeorge.html">George Taylor</a>," Tech Central Station. Archived February 14, 2007.

</li>

<li>

<a id="s13" name="s13"> </a>"<a target="_blank" href="http://heartland.org/george-taylor">Heartland Experts: George Taylor</a>," The Heartland Institute. Accessed February, 2012.

</li>

<li>

"<a target="blank" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Taylor%28Oregon_State_University%29">George Taylor (Oregon State University)</a>," SourceWatch Profile.

</li>

<li>

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=912">ExxonSecrets Factsheet: George H. Taylor</a>.

</li>

<li>

"<a target="blank" href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/wiki/index.php/Deniers:Scientists:George_H.Taylor">Deniers:Scientists:George H. Taylor</a>," ExxonSecrets Wiki.

</li>

</ol>

wa times claims discrim: note he was NOT fired? peer rev on Google scholar?

Scientists skeptical of climate-change theories say they are increasingly coming under attack -- treatment that may make other analysts less likely to present contrarian views about global warming.

"In general, if you do not agree with the consensus that we are headed toward disaster, you are treated like a pariah," said William O'Keefe, chief executive officer of the Marshall Institute, which assesses scientific issues that shape public policy.

"It's ironic that a field based on challenging unproven theories attacks skeptics in a very unhealthy way."

Two climatologists in Democrat-leaning states, David Legates in Delaware and George Taylor in Oregon, have come under fire for expressing skepticism about the origins of climate change. Oregon Gov. Theodore R. Kulongoski is publicly seeking to strip Mr. Taylor, widely known as the state's climatologist, of his position because of his stance.

"There has been a broad, concerted effort to intimidate and silence them," said Myron Ebell, director of energy and global-warming policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. "It's the typical politics of the hard left at work. I think these are real threats."

CEI, which previously listed Mr. Legates as an "adjunct scholar," has published multiple reports questioning the science behind global-warming theories and has been criticized for accepting donations from companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp.

Mr. O'Keefe said his organization doesn't deny the existence of global warming but questions the methods used by individuals and groups advocating for new government restrictions to combat the phenomenon.

"We have never said that global warming isn't real," Mr. O'Keefe said. "No self-respecting think tank would accept money to support preconceived notions. We make sure what we are saying is both scientifically and analytically defensible."

In an interview with local NBC affiliate KGW-TV, Mr. Kulongoski, a Democrat, said he hopes to take away Mr. Taylor's job title because his views do not mesh with the political opinions of most lawmakers in Oregon, including the governor.

"He is Oregon State University's climatologist. He is not the state of Oregon's climatologist," Mr. Kulongoski said. "I just think there has to be somebody that says, 'This is the state position on this.' "

Mr. Taylor was appointed to the position in 1991, when Oregon's legislature created a state climate office at the college. Mr. Kulongoski wants to change the position to a governor-appointed one. State Sen. Brad Avakian, a Democrat, is sponsoring a bill supporting such a move.

Taylor, Geo H

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