Non-governmental environmental organization Greenpeace has exposed some climate change researchers who are ready to conceal payment sources for their research. A sting operation by the group showed the researchers are even willing to do so even if the payment is coming from overseas oil, gas and coal producing corporations.

Greenpeace employed two of its members to act as representatives of energy companies for the sting operation, which took place over period of several months. Their job was to convince prominent commentators on climate change to show papers extolling the benefits of carbon emissions.

Two of the climate change commentators who agreed to the offer were: a Princeton University professor and one from Pennsylvania State University. Frank Clemente, a professor emeritus of sociology at Penn State, said he is ready to write in support of a coal mining firm based in Indonesia. William Happer from Princeton University agreed to write in favor of an oil and gas company.

Dr. Clemente, former director of an environmental policy center at Penn State, said, “I fully stand behind every single statement I made in the emails apparently pirated by Greenpeace. I am very proud of my research and believe that clean coal technologies are the pathway to reliable and affordable electricity, reduction of global energy poverty and a cleaner environment”.

Dr. Happer said there is nothing that can make him feel embarrassed. When he was asked whether there should be full disclosure of foreign and industry influence on science, he answered with a ‘Yes’ and said that he supports full disclosure.