Gregory Boyce

Climate Change Denial Business Gregory Boyce

Gregory Boyce

Gregory Boyce is the former CEO of Peabody, formerly Peabody energy, he retired in 2015 before the company filed for bankruptcy. He is currently a chairman of the Coal Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency. Boyce is an active member of the National Coal Council.

Climate change:

Gregory Boyce claims climate change is “not a future environmental crisis predicted by computer models but a human crisis today that is fully within our power to solve—with coal.” In 2007 Boyce was asked whether increased atmospheric C02 levels were dangerous and he responded “I think the simple answer is we don’t know.” Boyce has also stated, “although EPA credits these extremely uncertain computer-model predictions, it does not give sufficient weight to the demonstrated, known benefits of CO2 as plant food.”

Peabody has funded “at least two dozen groups that cast doubt on man made climate change and oppose environmental regulations.” Some of these groups include the American Legislative Exchange Council, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, and National Black Chamber of Commerce. Their climate denial lobbying dates back to Fred Palmer in the 1990s when he “promoted the notion that climate change was a net positive, with benefits for plants and public health.” Palmer has also opposed EPA rules and “limits on carbon pollution to deal with what he dismissed as “climate theory.” In 2010, Peabody spent over $4.5 million on lobbying, including half a million dollars to Larry Tribe to argue against the Clean Power Plan Act.

In a letter to the US government Peabody described C02 as, “a benign gas that is essential for all life.” In 2015 they sent another letter stating “While the benefits of carbon dioxide are proven, the alleged risks of climate change are contrary to observed data, are based on admitted speculation, and lack adequate scientific basis.” Vic Svec, Senior VP for Global Investors, has stated “our view is that the worst human and environmental crisis is not climate change.”

Alaska:

In 2008, Peabody was sued by a native Alaskan village over erosion damage and greenhouse gas emissions. The village was forced to relocate because of the environmental damage.