“We need more science:” Tony Abbott joins board of climate denial think tank

Tony Abbott, the former prime minister of Australia who trashed the country’s carbon price and tried to destroy other key clean energy policies and institutions, has joined the board of trustees of one of the world’s most notorious think tanks.

Abbott has been appointed to the board of trustees of the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), a UK based think tank whose director Benny Peiser has stated that: “it’s extraordinary that anyone should think there is a climate crisis.”

“Right now, in countries like Australia, the impact of climate policy is to make electricity less affordable and less reliable rather than perceptibly to cool the planet,” Abbott said in a statement.

“We need more genuine science and less groupthink in this debate – that’s where the GWPF has been a commendably consistent if lonely voice.”

The GWPF was founded in 2009 by former UK Chancellor the Exchequer Nigel Lawson. Like Australia’s Institute of Public Affairs, another fierce critic of net zero and clean energy and EV policies, it does not reveal its funders.

Abbott was Australian prime minister from 2013 to 2015 and served as the member of the Australian parliament from 1994 to 2019. He is a director of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, serves on the council of the Australian War Memorial, and is an adviser to the UK Board of Trade.

During his time in office, Abbott delivered on his promise to “axe the tax”, and brought an end to the short lived carbon price. He also reduced the ambition of the renewable energy target, after failing to scrap it entirely, disbanded the Climate Commission and cut funds from other key bodies.

He voiced his opposition to wind farms in particular. He lost his seat of Warringah in 2019 to independent Zali Steggall.

GPWF chairman Dr Jerome Booth said Abbott brings a global perspective and policy insight at the very highest level.

“He will further assist our objectives and help our efforts to foster a culture of debate, respect and scrutiny in policy areas that are currently dominated by intolerance, high emotions, moral reasoning and confusion.”

The GPWF describes itself as one of the world’s leading climate and energy policy think tanks, which is “committed to providing a platform for educational research and informed debates” on these issues.

“Its aim is to raise standards in learning and understanding through rigorous research and analysis, to help inform a balanced debate amongst the interested public and decision-makers and to foster a culture of open debate, tolerance and learning.

The investigative website DeSmog has a comprehensive analysis of the think tank and its activities and policy positions.