CO2 Coalition

The CO2 Coalition is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2015. It focuses on climate change, energy policy, carbon dioxide, fossil fuels, and the interpretation of climate science for public policy. The organization presents carbon dioxide as an essential component of life and emphasizes its role in plant growth, while disputing the prevailing scientific conclusion that human emissions of greenhouse gases are causing dangerous global warming. Wikipedia and other climate-policy references commonly characterize the Coalition as a climate-change-denialist or climate-contrarian organization because its public claims conflict with the scientific consensus summarized by bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and national scientific academies. The organization emerged after the closure of the George C. Marshall Institute in 2015. The Marshall Institute had worked on defense and climate issues, and several of its personnel and intellectual networks continued through the CO2 Coalition. William O'Keefe, who had served as the Marshall Institute's chief executive and had previously led the American Petroleum Institute, continued as chief executive of the new organization. Physicist William Happer, an emeritus professor known for opposing mainstream interpretations of climate change, was another founder. Happer stated that the Marshall Institute's association with climate contrarianism had damaged its ability to attract some foundation support, helping explain the creation of a successor organization under a different name. The Marshall Institute's defense-related work was transferred to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The CO2 Coalition's activities include publishing white papers, policy briefs, comment letters, testimony, press releases, and educational material. Its publications address the alleged benefits of atmospheric carbon dioxide, climate-model uncertainty, energy production, fossil-fuel use, climate-related financial regulation, and the interpretation of government climate assessments. By February 2023, the organization reported having published twelve white papers, six climate-issues-in-depth documents, eight science-policy briefs, member testimony, and other member publications. The Coalition has participated directly in United States policy debates. In May 2017 it joined more than forty organizations in a letter thanking President Donald Trump for his stated intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement; Trump announced the withdrawal in June of that year. In 2021 the Coalition submitted a comment opposing proposed Securities and Exchange Commission climate-related disclosure rules. In 2022 it submitted a comment to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission concerning climate-related financial risks, rejecting the premise that fossil fuels and carbon dioxide create an emergency or material climate-related financial risk. These positions directly challenge the evidentiary status of the IPCC and U.S. National Climate Assessment, which are widely treated as authoritative syntheses of climate research. The organization also seeks public and educational visibility. In 2023, its booth was removed from the National Science Teaching Association's annual convention after the Coalition distributed a children's comic book presenting carbon dioxide as essential to life and other material attacking mainstream claims about human-caused warming. Critics argued that the material highlighted carbon dioxide's biological importance while omitting or minimizing the risks associated with rising atmospheric concentrations. The incident illustrated the Coalition's broader positioning: it frames its work as a corrective to what it considers exaggerated or politically motivated climate warnings, while mainstream climate scientists and educators regard its central claims as misleading or inconsistent with established evidence.

The CO2 Coalition was established in 2015 as a successor to the George C. Marshall Institute, a Washington-based think tank that had worked on defense policy and climate issues. The Marshall Institute closed in the same year. Its chief executive, William O'Keefe, continued as the CO2 Coalition's chief executive. O'Keefe had previously served as chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute, while physicist William Happer, an emeritus professor who disputed mainstream interpretations of climate change, became another founding figure. The transition reflected both continuity and strategic repositioning. Happer said that the Marshall Institute's public association with climate contrarianism had made it more difficult to secure foundation funding for defense-related work. The Institute's defense activities were moved to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, while climate and energy advocacy continued through the newly formed CO2 Coalition. The new organization concentrated more explicitly on arguments about carbon dioxide, fossil-fuel energy, climate science, and public policy. The Coalition is organized as a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its public materials describe carbon dioxide as an essential resource for plants and life and challenge the view that increasing atmospheric concentrations will produce catastrophic consequences. The group also questions the reliability, interpretation, or policy use of climate models and major assessment reports. These positions place it outside the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change, and climate researchers and science organizations have frequently described its communications as climate denial or climate contrarianism. During its early years, the organization developed a publication and advocacy program consisting of white papers, in-depth climate issue reports, science-policy briefs, testimony, and member publications. Its subject matter has included energy production, the environmental and biological role of carbon dioxide, fossil-fuel policy, climate risk, and the use of climate research in regulation. By February 2023, the Coalition said it had produced twelve white papers, six climate-issues-in-depth documents, and eight science-policy briefs, in addition to testimony and other publications. The organization entered federal policy debates during the Trump administration. In May 2017 it joined more than forty groups in a letter thanking President Donald Trump for his promise to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Trump announced the intended withdrawal in June 2017. The Coalition later focused on financial and securities regulation. In 2021 it submitted a public comment opposing proposed climate-related disclosure requirements from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The submission denied that a climate crisis existed and rejected the characterization of carbon dioxide as a harmful or toxic substance. In 2022 it responded to a Commodity Futures Trading Commission inquiry on climate-related financial risks, arguing that there were no climate emergencies or fossil-fuel-related financial risks of the kind contemplated by the inquiry. The comment attacked the IPCC and U.S. National Climate Assessment as government opinion rather than valid scientific foundations for regulatory action. The Coalition has also pursued educational and public-outreach channels. In 2023 it exhibited at the National Science Teaching Association's annual convention, where it distributed a children's comic presenting carbon dioxide as necessary for life and additional material criticizing the association's acceptance of harmful human-caused warming. The booth was removed after organizers determined that the materials were inconsistent with the convention's requirements and stated position on climate change. Climate scientists criticized the material for stressing carbon dioxide's role in plant growth without addressing the consequences of elevated greenhouse-gas concentrations. As of 2023, the Coalition continued to issue public statements and press releases and to advocate on energy and climate policy. John Clauser joined its board that year. The organization's identity remains centered on challenging mainstream climate policy, defending the social and biological benefits of carbon dioxide, and opposing measures based on the scientific consensus concerning anthropogenic warming.

• 2023

  Convention booth removed

  [1]CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The National Science Teaching Association removed the Coalition's booth after it distributed educational and advocacy material inconsistent with the association's stated position on climate change.

• 2023

  John Clauser joins the board

  [1]CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  Physicist John Clauser joined the organization's board.

• 2022

  CFTC climate-risk comment

  [1]CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The Coalition submitted a comment disputing the existence of climate-related financial risks caused by fossil fuels and carbon dioxide.

• 2021

  SEC climate-disclosure comment

  [1]CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The organization submitted a comment opposing proposed Securities and Exchange Commission climate-related disclosure rules.

• 2017

  Letter supporting withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

  [1]CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The Coalition joined more than forty organizations in a letter thanking President Donald Trump for his promise to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

• 2015

  CO2 Coalition founded

  [1]CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was established in the United States as a successor to the George C. Marshall Institute after that institute closed.

• 2015

  Marshall Institute defense work transferred

  [1]CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The Marshall Institute's defense-related activities moved to the Center for Strategic and International Studies while climate and energy advocacy continued through the CO2 Coalition.

A nonprofit climate and energy policy advocacy organization positioned as a scientific and policy counterweight to mainstream climate-change assessments. Its communications emphasize the benefits of carbon dioxide, question claims of a climate emergency, and oppose climate-related regulation, while critics identify the organization with climate denial or climate contrarianism.

• Research publication

  White papers

  Substantive publications presenting the Coalition's arguments on carbon dioxide, climate science, energy production, fossil fuels, and public policy. The organization's reported publication catalog included twelve white papers by February 2023.

• Research publication

  Climate Issues in Depth

  Long-form issue analyses addressing selected questions in climate science and policy. These documents support the organization's broader effort to contest mainstream interpretations of climate risk and climate regulation.

• Policy publication

  Science Policy Briefs

  Shorter policy-oriented publications translating the Coalition's views on climate research, energy, carbon dioxide, and government action into arguments for policymakers and the public. Eight such briefs had reportedly been published by February 2023.

• Policy advocacy

  Public comments and testimony

  Formal submissions to government agencies and policy proceedings. Examples include comments to the SEC on climate disclosures and to the CFTC on climate-related financial risks, as well as testimony and member publications.

• Educational material

  Carbon dioxide educational materials

  Public-facing pamphlets and children's educational content that emphasize carbon dioxide's role in plant growth and life while challenging mainstream claims about harmful human-caused warming.

• 2023National Science Teaching Association convention outreach

  United States

  The Coalition promoted a children's comic about carbon dioxide and distributed material criticizing the mainstream scientific position on human-caused warming at the National Science Teaching Association's annual convention.

  Outcome. The booth was removed because organizers found the materials inconsistent with the convention's requirements and position on climate change.

  Source
• 2022Opposition to CFTC climate-risk action

  United States

  The Coalition challenged the CFTC's consideration of climate-related financial risks, arguing that fossil fuels and carbon dioxide did not create the risks described by mainstream climate assessments.

  Outcome. The submission added the Coalition's position to the regulatory record concerning climate-related financial policy.

  Source
• 2021Opposition to SEC climate disclosure

  United States

  The organization used the SEC's public-comment process to oppose proposed climate-related disclosure rules and reject the regulatory premises associated with a climate emergency.

  Outcome. The comment formed part of the broader public debate over federal climate disclosure regulation.

  Source
• 2017Paris Agreement withdrawal advocacy

  United States

  The Coalition joined a letter from more than forty organizations supporting President Donald Trump's campaign promise to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

  Outcome. Trump announced the United States' withdrawal in June 2017.

  Source

• 2022

  Challenge CFTC climate-risk analysisOther

  Background

  The CFTC sought views on climate-related risks to financial markets and commodities.

  Action taken

  The Coalition submitted a comment rejecting the existence of a climate emergency and disputing the use of IPCC and U.S. National Climate Assessment findings as a basis for regulatory action.

  Aftermath

  The comment reinforced the organization's role as an opponent of climate-related financial regulation.

  Source

• 2021

  Oppose SEC climate disclosure requirementsOther

  Background

  The SEC was considering climate-related disclosure requirements for companies and investors.

  Action taken

  The Coalition submitted a public comment denying that a climate crisis existed and opposing the proposed disclosure approach.

  Aftermath

  The submission became part of the regulatory debate over mandatory climate disclosures.

  Source

• 2017

  Support federal withdrawal from the Paris AgreementStrategy

  Background

  The Coalition opposed international climate policy based on the mainstream assessment of anthropogenic warming.

  Action taken

  It signed a letter thanking President Donald Trump for his promise to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

  Aftermath

  Trump announced the withdrawal in June 2017.

  Source

• 2015

  Create a successor organization focused on climate and energy advocacyStrategy

  Background

  The George C. Marshall Institute closed in 2015 after its work had included defense and climate issues. Its association with climate contrarianism had reportedly complicated fundraising for defense activities.

  Action taken

  The CO2 Coalition was formed to continue climate and energy advocacy, while the Marshall Institute's defense work moved to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

  Aftermath

  William O'Keefe continued as chief executive, and William Happer became a founding figure.

  Source

1. 1CO2 Coalitionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2CO2 Coalition official websiteco2coalition.org