Joel M. Schwartz
Credentials
- M.S., Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology.1“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
- B.S., Chemistry, Cornell University.2“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
Background
Joel Schwartz is an environmental consultant and “Senior Consultant” to the Blue Sky Consulting Group in California.3“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
Schwartz has done work with the RAND Corporation, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and is associated with numerous groups that have a history of questioning the science behind man-made climate change.4“Resume: Joel Schwartz,” Joelschwartz.com. Accessed February 13, 2012.
Stance on Climate Change
September 20, 2007
“Climate change is not a crisis. The thing we should be most afraid of is rushing to foolish policy.”5“Bush, Schwarzenegger differ on global-warming approach,” Copley News Service. Republished by Consumer Watchdog, September 20, 2007. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
Key Quotes
July 2007
In a JLF foundation report he wrote, Schwartz declared:
”[…] [T]he greatest threat we face from climate change is the danger of rushing into foolish and costly policies driven by ill-founded climate change hysteria.”6Joel Schwartz. “A North Carolina Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming” (PDF), John Locke Foundation Policy Report, July 2007.
Key Deeds
March 2009
Schwartz was a speaker at the Heartland Institute‘s Second International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC2) where he presented on the topic of “Climate Chnage[sic] and Human Health: A California Perspective.”7“Second International Conference on Climate Change, Program” (PDF) The Heartland Institute, February 1, 2009. Republished by Instituto Liberdade.
When DeSmog investigated the sponsors for the 2009 conference, we found that they had collectively received over $47 million in support from oil companies and right-wing foundations.
March 2008
Schwartz was a speaker at the Heartland Institute‘s First International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC1) in New York City.8“First International Conference on Climate Change, Program,” (PDF) Heartland Institute. Archived February 8, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/p3f7V
His speech, titled “Studies of Future Air Pollution in a Changing Climate” can be viewed below.
July 2007
Schwartz is the author of a John Locke Foundation (JLF) policy report titled “A North Carolina Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming” (PDF) that attempts to cast doubt on the existence of man-made climate change.
The report begins, stating that “Whatever the risks of future climate change, they pale in comparison to the risks of the ‘wrenching transformation’ sought by [Al] Gore and
his environmentalist allies.”
The report suggests that “other factors may be significant contributors, including: human activities other than greenhouse gas emissions; changes in the sun’s brightness over time that are not adequately accounted for in climate models; and changes in the number of cosmic rays hitting the Earth, which affects cloudiness.”
Common skeptic arguments presented in the report include that sea levels are not rising, that severe weather activity has no connection to climate change, that the sun is driving climate, that the climate has changed in the past, and that sea ice isn’t actually melting.
March 21, 2002
Schwartz is the author of a study for the NCPA titled “Breathe Easier on Asthma-Air Pollution Link.” At the time he was the director of the NCPA’s “Air Quality Project.”9Joel Schwartz. “Breathe Easier on Asthma-Air Pollution Link,” National Center for Policy Analysis Brief Analysis No. 390 (March 21, 2002).
His article is highly critical of a scientific study published in The Lancet, which had concluded, with regards to reducing the incidence of asthma in children, that “additional air pollution regulations are necessary to protect children’s health.”
Schwartz, however, accuses the study of “misleading the public” and “divert[ing] attention and resources from real threats to people’s lives and welfare.” Schwartz further concludes that “children exposed to current levels of air pollution are at virtually no additional risk of developing asthma.”
This is not the first time Schwartz has fought against emissions control measures. In an article for the Heartland Institute’s Environment & Climate News, titled “The American Lung Association’s Fear Campaign,” Schwartz contends that the American Lung Association (ALA) “misleads Americans about air pollution levels” and that “air pollution levels far higher than any we experience in the United States are perfectly safe, and that the nation’s air does not cause adverse health effects.”10Joel Schwartz. “The American Lung Association’s Fear Campaign,” The Heartlander, October 1, 2007.
Schwartz concludes, based on a 2004 research study, that “higher levels of air pollution were associated with a lower risk of developing asthma.” So, in the words of Joel Schwartz, air pollution is good for us.
Affiliations
- Institute for Energy Research (IER) — Former “Visiting Scholar.”11“Scholars,” Institute for Energy Research. Archived July 4, 2008. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SJ1Ne
- American Enterprise Institute (AEI) — Former “Visiting Fellow.”12“Scholars & Fellows: Joel M. Schwartz,” American Enterprise Institute. Archived March 9, 2009. 13“AEI Scholar Joel Schwartz Releases Study in Response to Union of Concerned Scientists’ Report on California Air Pollution,” American Enterprise Institute, January 22, 2007.
- Blue Sky Consulting Group — “Senior Consultant.”14“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
- Reason Public Policy Institute (RPPI) — “Senior Fellow” and past director, “Air Quality Project.”15Joel Schwartz and Lynne Kiesling. “Reason Public Policy Institute’s Comments on ‘Reducing California’s Petroleum Dependence’ A Draft Report by the Staffs of the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board, Produced Pursuant to AB 2076” (PDF), Submitted to the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board, June 6, 2003. Retrieved from Joelschwartz.com. 16“Heartland Experts: Joel Schwartz,” The Heartland Institute. Accessed February 13, 2012.
- Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) — “Adjunct Analyst.”17“Joel Schwartz: Adjunct Analyst,” Competitive Enterprise Institute. Accessed February 13, 2012.
- National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) — “Independent Scholar.”18“Joel Schwartz,” National Center for Policy Analysis. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite February 13, 2012.
- American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) — “Scientific Advisor.”19“Scientific Advisors,” American Council on Science and Health. Archived February 3, 2012.
- Tech Central Station (TCS) — Author.20“Joel M. Schwartz” (PDF), Resume at Joelschwatz.com.
- The Heartland Institute — “Expert.”21“Heartland Experts: Joel Schwartz,” The Heartland Institute. Accessed February 13, 2012.
Publications
According to his resume and a search of Google Scholar, Joel M. Schwartz has not published any articles in peer-reviewed journals on the subject of climatefchange.
Another Joel Schwartz, this a Harvard professor and epidemiologist, has published articles connecting climate change and heat-related deaths. These two individuals should not be confused.
Other Resources
- “Joel M. Schwartz,” SourceWatch Profile.
- ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Joel Schwartz.
Resources
- 1“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
- 2“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
- 3“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
- 4“Resume: Joel Schwartz,” Joelschwartz.com. Accessed February 13, 2012.
- 5“Bush, Schwarzenegger differ on global-warming approach,” Copley News Service. Republished by Consumer Watchdog, September 20, 2007. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
- 6Joel Schwartz. “A North Carolina Citizen’s Guide to Global Warming” (PDF), John Locke Foundation Policy Report, July 2007.
- 7“Second International Conference on Climate Change, Program” (PDF) The Heartland Institute, February 1, 2009. Republished by Instituto Liberdade.
- 8“First International Conference on Climate Change, Program,” (PDF) Heartland Institute. Archived February 8, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.li/p3f7V
- 9Joel Schwartz. “Breathe Easier on Asthma-Air Pollution Link,” National Center for Policy Analysis Brief Analysis No. 390 (March 21, 2002).
- 10Joel Schwartz. “The American Lung Association’s Fear Campaign,” The Heartlander, October 1, 2007.
- 11“Scholars,” Institute for Energy Research. Archived July 4, 2008. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SJ1Ne
- 12“Scholars & Fellows: Joel M. Schwartz,” American Enterprise Institute. Archived March 9, 2009.
- 13“AEI Scholar Joel Schwartz Releases Study in Response to Union of Concerned Scientists’ Report on California Air Pollution,” American Enterprise Institute, January 22, 2007.
- 14“Joel Schwartz,” Blue Sky Consulting Group. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite, February 13, 2012.
- 15Joel Schwartz and Lynne Kiesling. “Reason Public Policy Institute’s Comments on ‘Reducing California’s Petroleum Dependence’ A Draft Report by the Staffs of the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board, Produced Pursuant to AB 2076” (PDF), Submitted to the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board, June 6, 2003. Retrieved from Joelschwartz.com.
- 16“Heartland Experts: Joel Schwartz,” The Heartland Institute. Accessed February 13, 2012.
- 17“Joel Schwartz: Adjunct Analyst,” Competitive Enterprise Institute. Accessed February 13, 2012.
- 18“Joel Schwartz,” National Center for Policy Analysis. Accessed February, 2012. Archived with WebCite February 13, 2012.
- 19“Scientific Advisors,” American Council on Science and Health. Archived February 3, 2012.
- 20“Joel M. Schwartz” (PDF), Resume at Joelschwatz.com.
- 21“Heartland Experts: Joel Schwartz,” The Heartland Institute. Accessed February 13, 2012.
