Augustinus Johannes "Guus" Berkhout (born 1 April 1940) is a Dutch engineer who has worked for the oil and gas industry, and as a professor.
On request of the House of Representatives the Dutch Minister for Transport and Water Management, Tineke Netelenbos, instigated the commission.
Berkhout resigned as chair after having the feeling that the independence of the commission was hindered by the Ministry, and having to wait for approval of a measurement plan for over half a year.
Mid 2019 plans of CLINTEL and Berkhout were leaked showing that they were organizing a campaign against political commitments to net zero carbon emissions being made into law.
The campaign features a number of academics and industry figures with ties to climate change denial groups, as well as members from oil and gas companies.
[8] Berkhout claimed the ideal of the organization was to provide an alternative to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.