Harold Monteith is an American figure known primarily for his role as the president of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM) and for his involvement in the Global Warming Petition Project, commonly referred to as the "Oregon Petition."
Overview
Harold Monteith has been a prominent figure in organizations that promote skeptical views regarding the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change. His main public visibility stems from his leadership at OISM, a private research institute, and his association with its major public awareness initiative, the Oregon Petition.Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM)
The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM) is a non-profit organization located in Cave Junction, Oregon, co-founded by Arthur B. Robinson. Monteith serves as its president. OISM describes itself as an independent research institute focusing on subjects like biochemistry, nutrition, and environmental science. However, it is most widely recognized for its work challenging the mainstream scientific consensus on climate change. The institute's activities include publishing research, advocating for specific policy positions, and disseminating information, often through its website.The Global Warming Petition Project (Oregon Petition)
Monteith played a key organizational role in the Global Warming Petition Project, launched by OISM in the late 1990s and relaunched in the mid-2000s. The petition aimed to challenge the scientific consensus on climate change, specifically stating:"There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth."
The petition was distributed widely, often accompanied by a mock scientific paper formatted to resemble an article from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), authored by Arthur B. Robinson, Sallie Baliunas, Willie Soon, and Zachary W. Robinson. This paper, though never peer-reviewed or published in PNAS, presented arguments against the severity of global warming. Monteith's role involved facilitating the collection of signatures for this petition, which reportedly accumulated tens of thousands of signatories identified as scientists.
Controversy and Criticism
The Oregon Petition, and by extension Monteith's involvement, has been widely criticized by mainstream scientific organizations and climate scientists. Key points of contention include:- Misleading Presentation: The initial distribution of the petition included a pamphlet designed to mimic the appearance of a peer-reviewed scientific journal, which critics argued was an intentional attempt to mislead recipients about the scientific validity of the claims.
- Verification of Signatories: While the petition claimed a large number of scientist signatories, the verification process and the scientific relevance of many of the listed credentials (e.g., veterinarians, engineers with no climate expertise) were questioned by numerous sources. Critics contended that the petition did not accurately represent the views of the broader scientific community regarding climate change.
- Scientific Consensus: The petition stands in direct opposition to the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists and major scientific bodies worldwide, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the National Academy of Sciences, and NASA, all of which affirm that the Earth's climate is warming and that human activities are the primary cause.
Despite the criticism, the Oregon Petition has been frequently cited by climate change skeptics and denial organizations as evidence that a substantial number of scientists disagree with the mainstream consensus on global warming. Harold Monteith, through his leadership at OISM, has been instrumental in the promotion and maintenance of this project.