ClimateGate Unethical, Potentially Illegal Behavior: Sen. Inhofe

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has released a comprehensive examination of an investigation into the controversy known as “ClimateGate”  concluding that the scientists involved “cooked the science” creating the “most significant scientific scandal of our generation.”

In November, 2009 disclosure of a large volume of email communications and documents connected to the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England set off a international scandal and accusations of faulty science, conspiracy, and collusion raising serious doubt about the alarmist theory and catastrophic warnings of anthropogenic global warming (APW).  

During an EPW Committee hearing on February 23, 2010, Inhofe confronted Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, with the findings and called upon the Obama Administration to “scrap” the Administration’s “endangerment” classification related to APW greenhouse gases.  Further, Inhofe insisted the EPA drop plans to implement new regulations that would be “the most economically destructive initiative in this nation’s history.”  (Watch video here.)

Inhofe’s investigation on behalf of the EPW Committee’s Minority Republicans concluded that the scientists:

·         Obstructed release of damaging data and information;

·         Manipulated data to reach preconceived conclusions;

·         Colluded to pressure journal editors who published work questioning the climate science "consensus"; and

·         Assumed activist roles to influence the political process.

According to Inhofe, "This EPW Minority Report shows that the CRU controversy is about far more than just scientists who lack interpersonal skills, or a little email squabble. It's about unethical and potentially illegal behavior by some the world's leading climate scientists. “

"The report also shows the world's leading climate scientists acting like political scientists, with an agenda disconnected from the principles of good science.  And it shows that there is no consensus-except that there are significant gaps in what scientists know about the climate system.  It's time for the Obama Administration to recognize this.  Its endangerment finding for greenhouse gases rests on bad science.  It should throw out that finding and abandon greenhouse gas regulation under the Clean Air Act-a policy that will mean fewer jobs, higher taxes and economic decline."

Link to EPW Minority Report on CRU Controversy 

Link to a Sampling of CRU Emails

Link: IPCC Gets the Science Wrong

Link: Endangerment Finding Based on Flawed Science