December, 02 2009, 02:30pm EDT
Prominent Climate Scientist Joins Colleagues in Assuring Senators That Stolen E-Mails Have 'No Impact' on Climate Science Conclusions
WASHINGTON
James McCarthy, a former
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lead author, sent
a letter (pdf) to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) today stressing that
e-mails stolen from climate scientists have no bearing on our overall
understanding of climate science.
Dr. McCarthy is board chair of both the American Association
for the Advancement of Science and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
The letter reads in full: "The scientific process depends on
open access to methodology, data, and a rigorous peer-review process. The
robust exchange of ideas in the peer-reviewed literature regarding climate
science is evidence of the high degree of integrity in this process. The body
of evidence that human activity is prominent agent in global warming is
overwhelming. The content of these a few personal emails has no impact
what-so-ever on our overall understanding that human activity is driving
dangerous levels of global warming."
Similarly, a Nature
editorial published today states there is no reason for its editors to
revisit papers submitted by scientists whose e-mails were stolen. The American
Meteorological Society also recently stated the e-mails gave
them no reason to revisit its conclusion that human activity is driving
climate change.
According
to UCS, the evidence for climate change is incontrovertible. While it is
still not clear any wrongdoing actually took place, the group said, scientists in
general should do more to address concerns about openness.
For more comments on the stolen e-mails, climate blogger
Josh Nelson has assembled
a compilation of reactions from scientists and other groups to the stolen
e-mails.
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
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