KEY POINTS:
A headline in last week's Weekend Herald incorrectly stated that a climate scientist, Auckland University Associate Professor Chris de Freitas, had "joined forces" with oil giants, in relation to a United States court case.
Professor de Freitas, as correctly reported in the accompanying story, has lined up with seven American climate scientists in a submission to be presented to the Supreme Court by legal counsel for the Competitive Enterprise Institute opposed to the move that would make carbon dioxide a pollutant under the US Clean Air Act. The CEI received money from oil giant ExxonMobil in the past, but not this year.
Professor de Freitas points out that the submission he helped to prepare was written in September and October this year, that he has no connection with oil companies, and that his comments or research findings on climate change are not influenced by industry, directly or indirectly.
The Herald regrets the incorrect wording in the headline and apologises to Professor de Freitas.