Jan L. Breslow
Credentials
- M.D., Harvard Medical School, 1968. 1“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- M.A., Columbia University, 1964. 2“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- A.B., Columbia University, 1963. 3“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
Background
Jan L. Breslow is a physician and professor at Rockefeller University, specializing in cardiovascular disease. He is a former president of the American Heart Association.4“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
Breslow was one of 16 scientists to sign a January 2012 Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal declaring that there is “No Need to Panic About Global Warming,” despite having no experience in climate science or a related discipline.5“No Need to Panic About Global Warming,” The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2012.
Stance on Climate Change
“No Need to Panic About Global Warming,” the inflammatory Op-Ed that Breslow signed, states:
“The lack of warming for more than a decade—indeed, the smaller-than-predicted warming over the 22 years since the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) began issuing projections—suggests that computer models have greatly exaggerated how much warming additional CO2 can cause. Faced with this embarrassment, those promoting alarm have shifted their drumbeat from warming to weather extremes, to enable anything unusual that happens in our chaotic climate to be ascribed to CO2.”
Key Quotes
October 2013
When the editor of the Washington Times refused to publish letters from climate change dneiers, Jan Breslow was quoted by Fox News as saying:6“LA Times bans letters from climate skeptics,” Fox News, October 18, 2013. Archived March 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/AhR1s
“There was an effective embargo on alternative opinions, so making it official really does not change things.”
Key Deeds
February 4, 2018
In January 2018, more than 200 scientists endorsed an open letter calling on the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) to remove climate change denier Rebekah Mercer from its board and to “end ties to anti-science propagandists and funders of climate science misinformation.” The New York Times reported that those among the AMNH letter calling for Mercer to step down were Michael E. Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, and Katharine Hayhoe, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University.7Robin Pogrebin and Somini Sengupta. “A Science Denier at the Natural History Museum? Scientists Rebel,” The New York Times, January 25, 2018. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tAIv4
Breslow was among a group of climate change deniers who responded with their own open letter, calling for the AMNH “not to cave in to this pressure.” The letter was signed by numerous individuals with ties to groups funded by the Mercer Family Foundation such as Will Happer of the CO2 CoalitionRichard Lindzen, a fellow at the Cato InstituteCraig Idso, the chairman of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change. There are a number of signatories affiliated with the Heartland Institute, which has received over $5.78 million from the Mercer Family Foundation since 2008.8Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Deniers Defend New York’s American Museum of Natural History From Calls to Drop Trustee Rebekah Mercer,” DeSmog, February 6, 2018.
The letter reads:9mnh18-feb4-petitionletter (PDF – Untitled). Retrieved from Watts Up With That.
“The Earth has supported abundant life many times in the geological past when there were much higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is quite likely that future generations will benefit from the enrichment of Earth’s atmosphere with more carbon dioxide.
“Make no mistake, the agitators are not defending science from quackery — quite the contrary!”
February 23, 2017
Jan Breslow was a signatory of a petition (PDF) organized by Richard Lindzen of the Cato Institute urging President Donald Trump to pull the United States out of the United Nations international convention on climate change (UNFCCC).10“PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.
“In just a few weeks, more than 300 eminent scientists and other qualified individuals from around the world have signed the petition below,” Lindzen wrote in the letter.11“PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.
DeSmog investigated the list, and found that only a small handful of the signatories could be considered “even remotely ‘qualified’ or ‘eminent’ — but not in the field of climate science.” The list included individuals “interested in climate,” and one signatory who only identified as an “emailer who wished to sign the petition” while some signers provided no affiliation or address whatsoever.12Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Denier Richard Lindzen’s List of 300 “Scientists” Sent to Trump Is the Usual Parade of Non-Experts,” DeSmog, February 27, 2017.
January 27, 2012
Breslow’s signature appeared on a Wall Street Journal opinion piece claiming there is no need to panic about global warming.13“No Need to Panic About Global Warming,” The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2012.
Other “scientists” who signed the article include Claude Allègre, J. Scott Armstrong, Roger Cohen, William Happer, William Kininmonth, Richard Lindzen, James McGrath, Rodney Nichols, Burt Rutan, Harrison H. Schmitt, Nir Shaviv, Edward David, Michael Kelly, Henk Tennekes, and Antonino Zichichi.
Media Transparency reported on the Op-Ed, concluding that most of the scientists have never published articles in peer-reviewed journals on the subject of climate change. They also contacted economist William Nordhaus who had been cited by the article, and he said that the WSJ was guilty of a “Complete Mischaracterization Of My Work.”14“The Journal Hires Dentists To Do Heart Surgery,” Media Transparency, January 30, 2012.
1980s
Breslow’s name appears dozens of times in the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. The tobacco documents reveal that RJ Reynolds tobacco company paid Jan Breslow for research with a 1987 gift.15“ENCLOSED IS THE FINAL PROGRESS AND EXPENDITURE REPORT OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY DR. JAN BRESLOW UNDER OUR 1987 (870000) GIFT,” Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. RJ Reynolds collection, Bates Number 508261232.
In one document, Frederick Seitz recommends Jan Breslow’s work to RJ Reynolds, noting that “Professor Breslow assures me that he can use the money very effectively.”16Frederick Seitz. “Dear Eleshia:,” The Rockerfeller University, December 2, 1986. Retreived from Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, Rj Reynolds collection, Bates Number 508260490.
Another document from 1986 notes that the RJ Reynolds’ Medical Research Committee would seek to “encourage Dr. Jan Breslow to submit a grant request proposal for approximately $250,000 per year for up to three years.”17“Medical Research Committee: Minutes of June 30, 1986 Meeting,” Medical Research Comm, June 30, 1986. Retrieved from Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, Rj Reynolds collection, Bates Number 508455403/5406.
In another document, Breslow is invited (with an honorarium) to present a grant proposal to the Council for Tobacco Research, which had earlier been urged to “cultivate” him.18Harmon C. McAllister. “Dear Dr. Breslow:,” The Council For Tobacco Research – U.S.A., Inc., May 9, 1986. Retrieved form Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. Council for Tobacco Research Collection, Bates Number 60039364/9364.
Affiliations
- Rockerfeller University — Senior Attending Physician.19“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- RJ Reynolds Tobacco
Social Media
- @breslow3 on Twitter
Publications
According to Skeptical Science, Breslow has written no peer-reviewed papers relating to climate change.20“The Latest Denialist Plea for Climate Change Inaction,” SkepticalScience, January 31, 2012.
Other Resources
Resources
- 1“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- 2“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- 3“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- 4“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- 5“No Need to Panic About Global Warming,” The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2012.
- 6“LA Times bans letters from climate skeptics,” Fox News, October 18, 2013. Archived March 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/AhR1s
- 7Robin Pogrebin and Somini Sengupta. “A Science Denier at the Natural History Museum? Scientists Rebel,” The New York Times, January 25, 2018. Archived February 13, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tAIv4
- 8Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Deniers Defend New York’s American Museum of Natural History From Calls to Drop Trustee Rebekah Mercer,” DeSmog, February 6, 2018.
- 9mnh18-feb4-petitionletter (PDF – Untitled). Retrieved from Watts Up With That.
- 10“PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.
- 11“PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.
- 12Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Denier Richard Lindzen’s List of 300 “Scientists” Sent to Trump Is the Usual Parade of Non-Experts,” DeSmog, February 27, 2017.
- 13“No Need to Panic About Global Warming,” The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2012.
- 14“The Journal Hires Dentists To Do Heart Surgery,” Media Transparency, January 30, 2012.
- 15“ENCLOSED IS THE FINAL PROGRESS AND EXPENDITURE REPORT OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY DR. JAN BRESLOW UNDER OUR 1987 (870000) GIFT,” Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. RJ Reynolds collection, Bates Number 508261232.
- 16Frederick Seitz. “Dear Eleshia:,” The Rockerfeller University, December 2, 1986. Retreived from Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, Rj Reynolds collection, Bates Number 508260490.
- 17“Medical Research Committee: Minutes of June 30, 1986 Meeting,” Medical Research Comm, June 30, 1986. Retrieved from Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, Rj Reynolds collection, Bates Number 508455403/5406.
- 18Harmon C. McAllister. “Dear Dr. Breslow:,” The Council For Tobacco Research – U.S.A., Inc., May 9, 1986. Retrieved form Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. Council for Tobacco Research Collection, Bates Number 60039364/9364.
- 19“Heads of Laboratories: Jan L. Breslow, M.D.,” The Rockerfeller University. Accessed January 31, 2012.
- 20“The Latest Denialist Plea for Climate Change Inaction,” SkepticalScience, January 31, 2012.
