The Charity Commission has closed its compliance case into Global Warming Policy Foundation after the climate sceptic think tank made changes to its operation and relationship with third parties.

The case opened two years ago amid environmental campaigners' concerns around reports it was being funded by fossil fuel interests.

Being looked at is whether there was “education value of the charity’s research” and its sources of funding.

In a statement this week the regulator says that “overall, the Commission has concluded that the trustees’ response during the case has addressed the concerns”.

“They have also agreed to make additional changes, which the regulator now expects them to complete. The Commission can revisit issues raised during the case should renewed regulatory concerns come to light.”

During the investigation the regulator details that the trustees had “proposed, trialled and implemented a new system that enables a level of external review” of its communications.

This is in place amid concerns around whether the charity’s research on climate change was meeting “appropriately rigorous standards of objective analysis and factual research to support the conclusions being presented, which is required for educational research in charity law”, said the regulator.

The Charity Commission is also satisfied that the charity has “made important changes” to its online content that “displays links to a far wider range of sources of information on climate change”.

Also looked at was the charity’s relationship with its wholly owned trading subsidiary, Net Zero Watch.

The regulator found no evidence to back up claims that the charity was financially supporting the subsidiary which was operating at a loss.

The charity’s plan to end its ownership of the subsidiary is “an appropriate further step”, said the Commission.

IT added that “appropriate procedures” are in place to manage conflicts of interest between the charity and US organisation American Friends of Global Warming Policy Foundation, as the two organisations share a director.

The Commission says it has accepted “strong assurances from the trustees that the charity, as a matter of policy, does not accept donations from the energy industry or anyone with a significant interest in an energy company.

“There are many charitable think tanks on our register, representing a range of intellectual traditions and outlooks,” said Charity Commission assistant director for casework Tracy Howarth.

“Our role is not to examine their worldview, but to ensure that charities demonstrate that they are furthering their purposes for the public benefit.

“All charities must comply with a range of legal obligations, which for educational charities includes ensuring balance across their outputs to allow people to make up their own minds.

“We have engaged with the Global Warming Policy Foundation on a range of regulatory issues in some detail and over many months.

“During that time, the charity has made changes and improvements both to its charitable activities, and its relationships with third parties. We expect the trustees to now fully implement the proposed changes. On that basis, we are satisfied the concerns raised are now resolved.”

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