More manipulation of 'global warming' science

Friday, January 1, 1904

A couple of years ago, it was revealed through a series of emails that researchers at a well-regarded climate change research facility had worked to silence credible researchers who questioned claims about "global warming." One even threatened violence against a skeptical scientist.

Moreover, the government-funded facility, at Britain's University of East Anglia, stonewalled freedom-of-information requests about its data and other materials.

Impartial scientists should not fear transparency about their work. But the science of global warming too often has been politicized, and now it is happening again.

Newly released email, also related to the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit, shows that dispassionate scientific inquiry was often laid aside in favor of promoting the view that man's use of fossil fuels is disastrously heating the Earth.

The Washington Post reports on one batch of the email: "An official from the British Met Office, a scientific organization that analyzes the climate, writes to the Climate Research Unit's then-director, Phil Jones: 'Observations do not show rising temperatures throughout the tropical troposphere unless you accept one single study and approach and discount a wealth of others. This is just downright dangerous. We need to communicate the uncertainty and be honest."

The official added, "I also think the science is being manipulated to put a political spin on it which for all our sakes might not be too clever in the long run."

No indeed.

Other emails "appear to show scientists' push to close ranks."

The Associated Press noted that part of the material suggested that the scientists' emails "could be deleted to dodge freedom of information requests."

And the AP pointed out a message that "appeared to suggest that the public need not interest itself in the inner workings of groups such as the International Panel on Climate Change ... ."

Other excerpts "appeared to show climate scientists talking in conspiratorial tones about ways to promote their agenda and freeze out those they disagree with."

None of this would be so important, except that environmental activists seek to impose economy-crippling costs on nations such as the United States to fight "global warming" -- while they would largely exempt highly polluting nations such as India and Communist China.

The public has a right to know whether science is being manipulated to promote an agenda. These latest revelations seem to confirm that that's exactly what is happening.