Changes

Early on in its history, GreenFacts stated that one of it's its goals "is to ensure that science can serve as a common ground between the different actors in the debate. If stakeholders from civil society, green NGOs and industry can agree on basic scientific facts, then debates on environment and health issues can be more rational, leading to sounder policies. This requires that Green-Facts can embrace all stakeholders in its organization, without its [industry] funding being an obstacle." <ref name="2003 Annual Report"/> Diversification of its funding source, the organisation organization later stated, was "needed to consolidate our credibility."<ref name="2005 Annual Report"/>

Solvay provided the initial three-years funding for GreenFacts.<ref name="funding">[http://about.greenfacts.org/funding/index.htm "GreenFacts funding"], accessed October 2007.</ref> The organization's 2002 annual return, which covered its first year and a half of operation, indicates that it received €137,646, all from Solvay. (This is approximately $US194,279 at October 2007 exchange rates.)<ref name="2002 Annual Report"/> In 2003 Solvay poured a further €210,000 into establishing the organisation and €231,000 in 2004.<ref name="2005 Annual Report"> GreenFacts, [http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2005-Annual-Report.pdf "Annual Report 2005"], page 7.</ref> It continued to fund the organisation beyond its initial three-year start-up grant too. In 2005 the company contributed €64,000 and a further €51,000 in 2006.<ref name="2006 Annual Report">GreenFacts, ' [http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2006-Annual-Report.pdf "2006 Annual Report"],2007, page 7.</ref> In the first four years of GreenFacts existence, Solvay contributed over €693,00. 000 (This is just over $US1 million, without adjusting for inflation, at November 2007 exchange ratesrate).)<ref name="2006 Annual Report"/>

In 2003 GreenFacts rather optimistically suggested that it might be able to diversify its income so that eventually it all come "from outside of industry funding." <ref name="2002 Annual Report"/> The organisation felt that a heavy reliance on industry funding had the potential to cripple the organisation's credibility and effectiveness. This was, it wrote in its 2003 annual report, "an important problem." "It is sometimes seen that critics of scientific information on health and environment issues turn their focus on the source of the funding when other arguments fail ... Green-Facts GreenFacts must ensure that the industrial part of its funding does not become an obstacle to the recognition of its publications and to the development of partnerships," GreenFacts stated. <ref name="2003 Annual Report"/>

Despite concern about reliance on industry funding, GreenFacts remained essentially funded by Solvay and other industrial companies until 2004, because it was "not yet eligible for most government and institutions subsidies or foundation grants, and could generally not apply for calls and tenders issued by Public Authorities".<ref name="funding figures"/> In 2005, it diversified its funding sources and reduced its' funding from the private sector to just less than 50% of its income. In 2006, GreenFacts' income was €509,922. (This was approximately $US714,000 at October 2007 exchange rates).) <ref name="2006 Annual Report">[http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2006-Annual-Report.pdf "GreenFacts asbl Annual Report 2006"], 2007.</ref> In 2007, GreenFacts' income was €590,591.]].<ref name="2007 Annual Report">GreenFacts' [http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2007-Annual-Report.pdf 2007 Annual Report], 2008</ref>

In 2003 GreenFacts attracted additional funding from [[Ferrari Textiles Group]], specifically thanking the company's CEO [[Romain Ferrari]].<ref name="2003 Annual Report">GreenFacts, ' [http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2003-Annual-Report.pdf 2003 "Annual Report"], page 4.</ref>(While the amount is not specifically stated in the grouporganization's annual report, it appears that Ferrari Textiles contribution was in the order of €5,000.)<ref name="funding figure"/> By 2005 the group organization had attracted additional funding from [[Carrefour]](a supermarket group), [[CEFIC]] (the [[European Chemical Industry Council]], "jointly with [[Euro Chlor]] and [[PlasticsEurope]]", the [[European Crop Protection Association]], [[GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals]], [[Proctor & Gamble]], [[Raffinerie Tirlemontoise]](a sugar company), [[Suez]] and [[Total Petrochemicals]]. (Solvay and Ferrari Textiles continued to support the group organization as well).<ref name="2005 Annual Report"/> The following year, further corporate sponsors provided support - [[Cumerio]], [[DSM]], [[Floridienne]] and [[Umicore]].<ref name="2006 Annual Report"/>

To date the groupGreenFacts's strategy of aiming to gain income from public agencies yielded comparatively littleis progressively yielding results. In 2005 only approximately €28,000 came from public agencies, with the group organization listing IRSIB-IWOIB, "the Scientific Research and Innovation Institute of the Brussels-Capital region" and the Swiss government's [[Agency for Development and Co-operation]]. (The Swiss agency which contributed €18,986 and , €27,176 and €96,187 in 2005 , 2006 and 2006 2007 respectively). The following year In 2006, GreenFacts attracted support from several additional public agencies - BELSPO (Belgian Science Policy), CBD (the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity), the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification), WHO ([[World Health Organization]]), FAO (UN [[Food and Agriculture Organization]]), UNEP-WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the [[United Nations Environment Program]]), the Environment Directorate General of the [[European Commission]], and the [[World Bank]]. Despite the new supporters, public agencies contributed just over €40,000 in 2006, which represented just 8% of the grouporganization's budget.<ref name="2006 Annual Report"/> In 2007, 46% of GreenFacts' €591,000 income came from the public sector, including €96,000 from the [[Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation]] and nearly €164,000 from contracts for various public agencies (including the Health and Consumer Safety Directorate General of the [[European Commission]]).<ref name="2007 Annual Report"/>

The group GreenFacts also had some limited success in gaining funding from foundations, with the Swiss foundation, [[Harafi]], supporting the group organization in 2005 , 2006 and 20062007. <ref name="2005 Annual Report"/><ref name="2006 Annual Report"/><ref name="2007 Annual Report"/>

GreenFacts claims it fully complied in 2006 and 2007 with its "funding rules", which include "we limit each corporate partner's contribution to a maximum of €50,000 per year, so that it does not form a too significant fraction of our annual income".<ref name="funding rules"/> While corporate funding of GreenFacts had declined as a ''percentage'' of the grouporganization's income (from 100% in 2002 to 42% in 2006and 41% in 2007), the total amount of corporate funding has grown substantially. In 2006 corporate funding : it amounted to €213,000in 2006 and €243, 000 in 2007 (well up on Solvay's opening year grant of €137,000 and slightly larger than the chemical company's second year grantof €210,000 and third year grant of €231,000).<ref name="funding figures"/>

The main activity of GreenFacts is the publication of [http://www.greenfacts.org/en/index.htm "GreenFacts Digests"], which it describes as "clear and faithful summaries of existing scientific reports on environmental and health topics: GreenFacts Digests and GreenFacts Co-===Publications". <ref>GreenFacts, [http://about.greenfacts.org/index.htm "About GreenFacts"], accessed December 2007.</ref> Once a topic has been agreed on, the source reports are selected by the GreenFacts Scientific Board.<ref>GreenFacts, [http://about.greenfacts.org/publications/digests.htm "GreenFacts Digests"], accessed December 2007.</ref> The President of the [http://about.greenfacts.org/whos-who/scientific-board.htm Scientific Board] appoints a review coordinator from amongst board members. They in turn supervise the organisations "peer-review" process, including the selection of three reviewers described as "among the impartial scientific experts in the field". The "peer reviewers" are usually ===

As part The main activity of GreenFacts is the publication process<ref>of [http://aboutwww.greenfacts.org/publicationsen/processindex.htm "GreenFacts Digests' Publication Process"]</ref>, GreenFacts' summaries are peer-reviewed by at least three people drawn from the foundation's "panel of experts", which also includes those from both industry and some non-government organisations that are sometimes consulted in a "pre-reviewit describes as " process. <ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/whos-who/panel-of-experts.htm "GreenFacts' Panel of Experts"].</ref>  ===Handling Conflicts of Interest===On its website GreenFacts states that "the scientists involved in the drafting or the review of the Digests must inform the Board of Directors clear and the SB [Scientific Board] faithful summaries of possible conflicts of interests." <ref>GreenFacts Foundation[http://about.greenfacts.org/publications/peer-review.htm "The Digests' Peer-review process"], accessed December 2007.</ref>  However, there is limited disclosure of information to the public which would enable those outside the organisation to determine whether actual or potential conflicts of interests exist. The authors and "peer reviewers" of digests are not disclosed on the existing scientific reports. The biographical details posted on the groups website on members of the Scientific Board - who select the source documents - are cursory environmental and do not provide any details of current or past consultancy affiliationshealth topics". <ref>GreenFacts, [http://about.greenfacts.org/whos-who/scientific-boardindex.htm "About GreenFacts' Scientific Board"], accessed December 2007. </ref> The individual digests list who was involved in the preparation of the report and its "peer review". However, it is unclear what disclosure standards are required of reviewers. ===Reports===Some of the reports leading scientific assessments summarized by GreenFacts are on environment and health topics, such as:

For each scientific report assessment it summarizes, GreenFacts actually prepares two summaries, a long one and a short one, which are published together with the source report on the [http://www.greenfacts.org/en/index.htm "Digests" section of its website] under GreenFacts' copyrighted Three-Level Structure of increasing detail<ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/publications/features.htm "GreenFacts Digests unique Features"]</ref>; this original web structure allows readers to easily navigate back and forth between the summaries and the source report. The Digest are originally published in English, most are translated into French and Spanish, and a growing number in German and/or Dutch. In 2006, GreenFacts also started publishing and widely distributing paper versions of some of its sorter shorter summaries in several languages <ref name="print publications">[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/digests/leaflets/index.htm GreenFacts' Paper Summaries]</ref>. Some of these paper summaries were also translated into Chinese, Russian or Arabic.

In 2006, GreenFacts started producing, for the [[European Commission]], summaries of scientific reports of the Scientific Committees of the [http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection], which are published on the European Commission's website <ref> [http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/popularizing/popularizing_results_en.htm "Bringing the results of the Scientific Committees closer to the public"], [[European Commission]]'s Website</ref> using GreenFacts' Three-Level Structure. The shorter summary is also published as well as on the [http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/index.htm "Co-Publications" section of GreenFacts website].

==In 2008, GreenFacts Web Strategy=was contracted by [[Com+ alliance]]<ref>[http://www.complusalliance.org/ Com+ alliance website]</ref> to produce the official summary of the [[United Nations]]' [[International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development]] (IAASTD).<ref name="Com+">[http://www.agassessment.org/ IAASTD website]</ref>

==Criticism==Once the topic for a Digest has been agreed on, a source report is selected by the GreenFacts Scientific Board amongst the recent available assessment reports.<ref>GreenFacts, [http://about.greenfacts.org/publications/digests.htm "GreenFacts Digests"], accessed December 2007.</ref> For each Digest, the President of the [http://about.greenfacts.org/whos-who/scientific-board.htm Scientific Board] appoints a "Review Coordinator" from amongst the Scientific Board members, in charge of supervising the "peer-review" process for this Digest. The Review Coordinator first selects at least three peer-reviewers, described as "among the impartial scientific experts in the field". Each "peer-reviewer" is asked to evaluate the summaries and propose corrections on a peer-review form. <ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/news/r-sb/sb-docs/peer_review_form.doc "GreenFacts Digest Peer Review Form"].</ref> The GreenFacts editorial staff incorporates the peer-reviewers' corrections in a "final draft", which is submitted to the Review Coordinator for comments. When the Review Coordinator is satisfied with the final draft, he then submits it to the President of the Scientific Board for final approval prior to publication. The "peer-reviewers" are usually listed in the organization's "panel of experts",<ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/whos-who/panel-of-experts.htm "GreenFacts' Panel of Experts"].</ref> which also includes experts from both industry and non-government organizations that are sometimes consulted in a "pre-review" process. Since 2005, the "peer-reviewers" are usually also listed in the "About" section of the corresponding Digest.

Some perceive ==GreenFacts as having many characteristics of an industry-funded [[front group]], having established itself as a non-profit group and claimed to have been formed by a wide range of stakeholders. It has established a level of credibility through its work, especially with key European institutions, and has appeared to be using this activity as a way of influencing debate over public policy. GreenFacts has been specifically criticised at times for its heavy reliance on corporate funding, for downplaying concerns about global warming, the use of phrases that were seen as partisan and for its role in having advocated positions favorable to the chemical industry.web strategy==

In the same section, the Digest states that "however, some people and organizations disagree with certain IPCC conclusions - click here for some links". The link opens a page containing links to a number ===Handling conflicts of websites, including those of to climate-sceptic front groups such as the [[European Science and Environment Forum]] and publications by Dr. [[Fred Singer]], Prof. [[Richard S. Lindzen]], Dr [[Sallie L. Baliunas]] and [[Willie Soon]], in addition to four other climate-sceptics websites and the [[Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine]], the [[Marshall Institute]], a global warming werbsite of the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]] and the [[Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change]]. interest===

The Digest includes as a preamble On its website GreenFacts states that "although most the scientists agree with involved in the IPCC report, some organisations express skepticism towards certain conclusions regarding uncertainties, human influence, adverse consequences drafting or actions needed", and the disclaimer "GreenFacts takes no position concerning review of the Digests must inform the views expressed in Board of Directors and the linked documentsSB [Scientific Board] of possible conflicts of interests."<ref>GreenFacts Foundation[http://wwwabout.greenfacts.org/studies/climate_change/linkspublications/question_11peer-review.htm Other views on Climate Change"The Digests' Peer-review process"], accessed November December 2007.</ref> However, it is notable that the only sites linked to are those critical of the IPCC for taking global warming too seriously. It does not include any links to websites that argue that the IPCC has been too cautious in its summarising of the science.

===However, there is limited disclosure of information to the public which would enable those outside the organization to determine whether actual or potential conflicts of interests exist. The authors of digests are disclosed in the "About" section of each Digest, but the "peer-reviewers" are only disclosed for Digests published since 2005. The biographical details posted on the organization's website on members of the Scientific Board - who select the source documents - are cursory and do not provide any details of current or past consultancy affiliations. <ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/whos-who/scientific-board.htm "GreenFacts ' Scientific Board"], accessed December 2007. </ref> The individual digests list who was involved in the preparation of the report and its "Sound Sciencepeer review"===. However, it is unclear what disclosure standards are required of reviewers.

===Policy engagementGlobal warming===

GreenFacts has been perceived as moving beyond summarising documents and actively engaging in In the policy debate"Other Views" section of its 2002 climate change Digest, targeting it previously stated that the websites of a few specific NGOs "tend to minimise some uncertainties or overstate the human influence on climate change or the European Union's likelihood of some adverse consequences"<ref>[http://europawww.eugreenfacts.int/commorg/environmentstudies/healthclimate_change/index_enlevel_1.htm Environment and Health process#90 "Scientific Facts on Climate Change" - "Other views"]</ref>. The chemical industry in Europe is also heavily engaged This sentence was removed in lobbying around this process2005.

Following a meeting on this process in December 2003, GreenFacts put out a press release entitled "GreenFacts reactions to the first EU SCALE consultative forum: GreenFacts welcomes the initiative and stresses In the need for sound scientific approach"same section, which quotes the GreenFacts general manager Jacques de Selliers: Digest states that "With an issue as sensitive as children’s healthhowever, it must be ensured that political pressures do not override scientific information some people and the need organizations disagree with certain IPCC conclusions - click here for sound methodologysome links"."The link opens a page containing links to a number of websites, including those of to climate-sceptic front groups such as the [[European Science and Environment Forum]] and publications by Dr.<ref>[http://about[Fred Singer]], Prof.greenfacts[[Richard S.org/pressroom/press-releases/2003/031219-pr-scale-en-draftLindzen]], Dr [[Sallie L.doc "GreenFacts Reactions Baliunas]] and [[Willie Soon]], in addition to four other climate-sceptics websites and the first EU SCALE Consultative Forum"[[Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine]] GreenFacts' first press release, December 19the [[George C. Marshall Institute]], 2003</ref>a global warming werbsite of the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]] and the [[Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change]].

GreenFacts claims The Digest includes as a preamble that this press release was a draft sent accidentally"although most scientists agree with the IPCC report, some organisations express skepticism towards certain conclusions regarding uncertainties, human influence, adverse consequences or actions needed", and issued shortly after a modified press release where the title was changed to "disclaimer "GreenFacts welcomes takes no position concerning the initiative of views expressed in the EU to bring together well-known experts from a wide variety of stakeholders to consider the environmental impacts on children’s health on firm scientific basislinked documents.", and Jacques de Selliers' quote changed to "With an issue as sensitive as children’s health, reliable scientific information is essential".<ref name="SCALE PR">[http://aboutwww.greenfacts.org/pressroomstudies/press-releasesclimate_change/2003links/031219-pr-scale-enquestion_11.htm "GreenFacts Reactions to the first EU SCALE Consultative Forum"Other views on Climate Change] GreenFacts' second press release, December 19, 2003accessed November 2007</ref>

It However, it is unclear how policy statements such as this can be reconciled with notable that the claimed aim only sites linked to are those critical of GreenFacts the IPCC for taking global warming too seriously. It does not include any links to be a 'non advocacy organisation'. A similar press release was issued at websites that argue that the same time by CEFIC, IPCC has been too cautious in its summarising of the [[European Chemical Industry Council]].<ref>[[http://www.cefic.be/Files/NewsReleases/Cefic_Press_Release_SCALEscience.pdf Chemical Industry supports SCALE, but concerned about current focus, time constraints] [[CEFIC]]'s press release, December 18, 2003]</ref>

In addition, a member of the ===GreenFacts staff (who resigned at the end of 2004) was the moderator in a few debates over risk communication, for example in a workshop on 2nd December 2004 at a European Commission meeting on the Environment and Health strategy."sound science"===

The use of the phrase "GreenFacts was formed in December 2001 by stakeholders from the academe, industrial groups and environmental NGOs concerned about the difficulties of communicating scientific information on environment and health issues."<ref name="SCALE PR"/> in GreenFacts' communication up to 2004 may appear to imply the ==Policy engagement of NGOs in the creation of GreenFacts, whilst in fact it was only a couple of individuals from NGOs. ===

According to its websiteGreenFacts has also been perceived as moving beyond summarising documents and actively engaging in the policy debate, its links to environmental NGOs are currently targeting the European Union's [http: //europa.eu.int/comm/environment/health/index_en.htm Environment and Health process]. The chemical industry in Europe is also heavily engaged in lobbying around this process.

* Partnership agreements with Following a few meeting on the European Union's Environment and Health process<ref>[http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment or /health NGOs /index_en.htm "European Environment and Health Homepage"], ''Europa'', last updated February 22, 2007.</ref name=> in December 2003, GreenFacts put out a press release entitled "GreenFacts reactions to the first EU SCALE consultative forum: GreenFacts welcomes the initiative and stresses the need for sound scientific approach"partners. The release, which was drafted by GreenFacts Operations manager [[David Zaruk]], quoted the GreenFacts general manager Jacques de Selliers: "With an issue as sensitive as children’s health, it must be ensured that political pressures do not override scientific information and the need for sound methodology"."<ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/partnerspressroom/indexpress-releases/2003/031219-pr-scale-en-draft.htm doc "GreenFacts' PartnersReactions to the first EU SCALE Consultative Forum"]GreenFacts' first press release, accessed NovDecember 19, 2003. 2007</ref>

* Presence GreenFacts claims that this press release was a draft sent accidentally, and issued shortly after a modified press release where the title was changed to "GreenFacts welcomes the initiative of people active in NGOs in its governance structure, such as the coEU to bring together well-founder known experts from a wide variety of stakeholders to consider the Flemish Green Party environmental impacts on children’s health on firm scientific basis". Jacques de Selliers' quote was changed to read "with an issue as Presidentsensitive as children’s health, the president of Pro-Natura International, an ex-CEO of WWF Belgium on its reliable scientific information is essential".<ref name="SCALE PR">[http://about.greenfacts.org/whospressroom/press-whoreleases/directors.htm Board of Directors], and the previous CEO of WWF France as one of the [http:2003//about.greenfacts.org/whos031219-pr-who/fullscale-membersen.htm 'Full Members'"GreenFacts Reactions to the first EU SCALE Consultative Forum"]. GreenFacts' points out that "All members second press release, December 19, 2003.</ref> It is unclear how policy statements such as this can be reconciled with the claimed aim of GreenFacts commit themselves on to be a purely personal basis. Their involvement does not constitute an official position of their other affiliations"'non advocacy organisation'.

* Membership of A similar press release was issued at the same time by CEFIC,<ref>[[World Conservation UnionCEFIC]] (, [http://www.cefic.be/Files/NewsReleases/Cefic_Press_Release_SCALE.pdf "Chemical Industry supports SCALE, but concerned about current focus, time constraints"], Media Release, December 18, 2003.</ref> the [[IUCNEuropean Chemical Industry Council]]), an organisation that was a funder GreenFacts.

Both these issues are closely linked to the debate on the ===Former personnel===*[[precautionary principleJacques de Selliers]]. They are also well known priorities for chemical industry lobbying, which would provide a rationale for the Solvay and CEFIC funding of GreenFacts.Co-Founder & Vice Chairman*[[Patrick Poty]], General Manager & CEO*[[David Zaruk]], Operations Manager

The presence since 2004 ==Affiliations==* Member of two companies in the food sector in the list [[World Conservation Union]] ([[IUCN]])* Associate partner of GreenFacts partners[[Com+ alliance]].<ref name="Com+"/>* Partnership agreements with a few environmental or health NGOs <ref name="partners"/> - the supermarket group Carrefour and the sugar company [http://wwwabout.tiensegroupgreenfacts.comorg/tiensepartners/Corporateindex.nsf/home?openform&lang=en&maincat=home Raffinerie Tirlemontoisehtm "GreenFacts' Partners"] - suggests that GreenFacts may start working on the food sector, accessed Nov.2007</ref>

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