Greenpeace, a non-governmental environmental organization, moved to distance itself from criticisms made by Patrick Moore of Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and the Green New Deal.
During an appearance on Fox & Friends on Tuesday, Moore, who's the former president of Greenpeace Canada, called Ocasio-Cortez "a pompous little twit," condemned the Green New Deal as a "silly plan" and claimed that climate change is "fake news and "fake science." Shortly after, President Donald Trump, who frequently denies the existence of global warming, shared Moore's sentiments on social media.
"Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace: 'The whole climate crisis is not only Fake News, it's Fake Science,'" he tweeted. "There is no climate crisis, there's weather and climate all around the world, and in fact carbon dioxide is the main building block of all life." @foxandfriends Wow!"
In a statement, Greenpeace asserted that Moore "does not represent Greenpeace" and rejected media reports and the president's claims that the former staffer was a co-founder of the organization.
"He is a paid lobbyist, not an independent source. His statements about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Green New Deal, which is an inspiring vision for climate action commensurate with the scale of the problem, have nothing to do with Greenpeace's positions and should not be reported as such," the group said.
The Green New Deal, sponsored by the freshman congresswoman, plans to address climate change by investing in eco-friendly jobs. Greenpeace has backed the deal, saying it "has the potential to create millions of family-sustaining union jobs that protect our nation's clean air, water and communities while confronting systemic injustices head-on."
"Yet responses to the resolution from right wing climate deniers have ranged from misinformed to downright ludicrous," the group added. "The only thing we should be debating now is how the Green New Deal will ensure a fossil fuel phase-out—which science tells us we must achieve in order to prevent runaway climate change-—and how we work together to get this started."
Greenpeace has previously distanced themselves from Moore in 2010 over similar circumstances.
"Patrick Moore often misrepresents himself in the media as an environmental 'expert' or even an 'environmentalist,' while offering anti-environmental opinions on a wide range of issues and taking a distinctly anti-environmental stance," the organization wrote in a statement at the time. "He also exploits long-gone ties with Greenpeace to sell himself as a speaker and pro-corporate spokesperson, usually taking positions that Greenpeace opposes."
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