With not much action happening at the federal level in terms of global warming, states are taking action -- including distancing themselves from those who deny it's a problem.

This weekend, the governor's office in Virginia sent a letter to the University of Virginia asking that Patrick J. Michaels -- one of the few scientists who believes warming isn't caused by human activity -- "not use his title of state climatologist when conducting his private consulting business," reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The state is concerned that the U.Va. professor's controversial views on global warming could be mistaken for the state's views.

Michaels also appears to have some ethical problems related to who funds his research:

Michaels, who has been the state climatologist since 1980, has come under fire after news reports last month said a Colorado utility raised at least $150,000 in donations and pledges to help him analyze other scientists' global-warming research.

The University and the governor's office are now embroiled in a debate about whether Michael's actually is the state climatologist. Stay tuned.

(H/T to Grist for the blog headline)