Alternate Solutions Institute
Background
The Alternate Solutions Institute describes itself as the “first free market think tank of Pakistan,” and as a registered, non-profit, “non-political, non-governmental, educational and research organization.” It was established in April, 2003 in Lahore, Pakistan.1“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ncxrb
The group states that its goal is “changing the climate of opinion in Pakistan so that there is an improved understanding of the benefits of limited government, rule of law, protection of property rights, market economy, individual freedom and private initiative.” Its official mission is to “promote a limited responsible government in Pakistan under the rule of law protecting life, liberty, and property of all of its individual citizens without any discrimination.”2“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ncxrb 3Homepage, Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/IJaj3
The Alternate Solutions Institute has been a regular sponsor of the Heartland Institute’s International Conference on Climate Change, an event that attracts climate change skeptics from across the country.
Stance on Climate Change
“The earth’s climate has always been susceptible to changes caused by natural factors over which human beings have no control. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change uses its monopoly power in the dissemination of its own politically edited version of climate science to advance the hypothesis that climate change is caused by fossil-fuel use.”4 Graham Dawson. “Privatizing Climate Policy,” Alternate Solutions Institute, April 28, 2010. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Dc8ce
Funding
The Alternate Solutions Institute does not publicly list their funding information.
In 2008, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, a group SourceWatch describes as the “Johnny Appleseed” of anti-regulation groups, gave the Alternate Solutions Institute a $100,000 grant that would be distributed over three years. The grant was part of the Atlas foundation’s Dorian and Anthony Fisher Venture grants program.5“Alternate Solutions Institute,” SourceWatch profile. 6Malik Muhammed Arif. “Alternate Solutions Institute Receives 0,000 Grant from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation,” Ground Report, March 26, 2008. Archived November 25, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/THHDv
Key People
As of November, 2015 the following people were listed on the Alternate Solutions Institute website:7“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ncxrb
Staff (2015)
- Dr. Raza Ullah — President
- Dr. Khalil Ahmad — Executive Director (Past President)8“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived January 22, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/eREVJ
- Javed Baluch — Office Assistant
Board of Advisors (2015)
- Dr. Sajid Ali
- Zaffarullah Khan
Actions
May 21–23, 2012
The Alternate Solutions Institute is listed as a “silver sponsor” of the Heartland Institute’s Seventh International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC7).9“Cosponsors,” 7th International Conference on Climate Change. Archived May 10, 2012. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
June 30–July 1, 2011
The Alternate Solutions Institute was a co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute‘s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC6) in Washington, DC.10Sixth International Conference on Climate Change Conference Program (PDF), the Heartland Institute. Archived July 25, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
DeSmog found that 17 of the 43 sponsors of the Heartland Institute’s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change, including the Heartland Institute itself, had collectively received over $46 million from either Scaife Foundations, Koch Foundations, or ExxonMobil.11Brendan DeMelle. “Denial-a-Palooza 6: Heartland’s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change, Courtesy of Koch, Scaife & Exxon,” DeSmog, June 30, 2011.
September 1, 2010
The Alternate Solutions Institute was one of a group of think-tanks that published “Seven Myths About Green Jobs,” which “concludes that Green Jobs are not that Green as is being claimed by the Green politicians and advocates.”12“Media Release: ‘Green’ Subsidies Are Costly for Taxpayers and the Environment – New Study,” Alternate Solutions Institute, September 1, 2010. Archived November 12, 2011. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/r7w0o
May 16–18, 2010
The Alternate Solutions Institute was a co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute’s Fourth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC4) in Chicago, IL.13“4th International Conference on Climate Change: Sponsored by the Heartland Institute” (Conference Program – PDF), The Heartland Institute, May, 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. DeSmog investigated sponsors behind the conference, and found that they had collectively received over $40 million in funding since 1985 from ExxonMobil, and/or Koch Industries, and/or Scaife family foundations.14Brendan DeMelle. “Denial-a-palooza Round 4: ‘International Conference on Climate Change’ Groups Funded by Exxon, Koch Industries,” DeSmog, May 13, 2010.
June 2, 2009
The Alternate Solutions Institute was a co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute’s Second International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC2) in Washington, DC.15“Co-Sponsors,” Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14, 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 16“Co-Sponsors,” Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14, 2010.
March 2009
The Alternate Solutions Institute was a co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute’s 2009 International Conference on Climate Change.17“Co-Sponsors,” The 2009 International Conference on Climate Change, February 10, 2009. Archived February 27, 2009.
DeSmog researched the funding behind Heartland’s Second International Conference on Climate Change, and found that sponsor organizations had received over $47 million in funding from energy companies and right-wing foundations, with 78% of that total coming from Scaife Family foundations.18“Heartland Institute’s 2009 Climate Conference in New York: funding history of the sponsors,” DeSmog.
January 25, 2007
In advance of the release of a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Alternate Solutions Institute was one of a number of organizations to form a “global coalition” entitled the Civil Society Coalition on Climate Change. The goal of the coalition was to challenge the IPCC report. According to an Alternate Solutions Institute release, “The CSCCC aims at challenging the unjustified alarmism and promote rational debate.”19“Civil Society Coalition on Climate Change to Challenge IPCC Report,” Alternate Solutions Institute, January 25, 2007. Archived November 25, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GIM96
Alternate Solutions Institute Contact & Location
As of June 2016, the Alternate Solutions Institute listed the following contact information on its website:20“Contact,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived June 8, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/jUIIt
Khalil Ahmad
Executive Director
Alternate Solutions Institute
P. O. Box No: 933
GPO, Lahore-54000
PakistanOffice Address:
Room No. 32, 3rd Floor, Landmark Plaza,
Jail Road, Lahore
PakistanPhone: +(92)-300-4414814
General email:
[email protected]
Related Organizations
- Hum-Azad.org — Urdu version of the Alternate Solutions Institute website.
- Civil Society Coalition on Climate Change (CSCCC)
Other Resources
- “Alternate Solutions Institute,” SourceWatch.
Resources
- 1“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ncxrb
- 2“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ncxrb
- 3Homepage, Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/IJaj3
- 4Graham Dawson. “Privatizing Climate Policy,” Alternate Solutions Institute, April 28, 2010. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Dc8ce
- 5“Alternate Solutions Institute,” SourceWatch profile.
- 6Malik Muhammed Arif. “Alternate Solutions Institute Receives 0,000 Grant from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation,” Ground Report, March 26, 2008. Archived November 25, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/THHDv
- 7“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived November 23, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ncxrb
- 8“About Alternate Solutions Institute,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived January 22, 2012. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/eREVJ
- 9“Cosponsors,” 7th International Conference on Climate Change. Archived May 10, 2012. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 10Sixth International Conference on Climate Change Conference Program (PDF), the Heartland Institute. Archived July 25, 2015. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 11Brendan DeMelle. “Denial-a-Palooza 6: Heartland’s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change, Courtesy of Koch, Scaife & Exxon,” DeSmog, June 30, 2011.
- 12“Media Release: ‘Green’ Subsidies Are Costly for Taxpayers and the Environment – New Study,” Alternate Solutions Institute, September 1, 2010. Archived November 12, 2011. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/r7w0o
- 13“4th International Conference on Climate Change: Sponsored by the Heartland Institute” (Conference Program – PDF), The Heartland Institute, May, 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 14Brendan DeMelle. “Denial-a-palooza Round 4: ‘International Conference on Climate Change’ Groups Funded by Exxon, Koch Industries,” DeSmog, May 13, 2010.
- 15“Co-Sponsors,” Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14, 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 16“Co-Sponsors,” Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14, 2010.
- 17“Co-Sponsors,” The 2009 International Conference on Climate Change, February 10, 2009. Archived February 27, 2009.
- 18
- 19“Civil Society Coalition on Climate Change to Challenge IPCC Report,” Alternate Solutions Institute, January 25, 2007. Archived November 25, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GIM96
- 20“Contact,” Alternate Solutions Institute. Archived June 8, 2016. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/jUIIt