http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php Promoting integrity in the use of climate science and related research in government en climatewatch@comcast.net Copyright 2008 2008-05-16T17:57:01-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/4th_national_integrity_in_science_conference/ Register now for the 4th National Integrity in Science Conference in Washington, DC, July 11, 2008. Meet with activists, scientists, and academics in our nation’s capital to discuss the diminished budgets, political interference, and declining morale that plague regulatory science. Brainstorm ways to shore up public sector science and revivify the environmental and public health protections that rely on a strong scientific foundation.  Climate Science Watch is a co-sponsor of this event and CSW Director Rick Piltz will participate on a panel on “Tackling the Climate Crisis: Unleashing Government Research.” Science-Policy Interaction, Climate Science Watch Register now for the 4th National Integrity in Science Conference in Washington, DC, July 11, 2008. Meet with activists, scientists, and academics in our nation’s capital to discuss the diminished budgets, political interference, and declining morale that plague regulatory science. Brainstorm ways to shore up public sector science and revivify the environmental and public health protections that rely on a strong scientific foundation.  Climate Science Watch is a co-sponsor of this event and CSW Director Rick Piltz will participate on a panel on “Tackling the Climate Crisis: Unleashing Government Research.”

]]> 2008-05-16T16:57:01-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/whistleblower_week_panel/ Climate Science Watch director Rick Piltz spoke at a Whistleblower Week in Washington event May 12, on a panel on “Scientific Freedom and the Public Good.” In addition to comments in response to questions about his own experience, he talked about the current situation with the Bush administration and the future direction of the federal climate research program and its relationship to society. See Details for full text. Censorship of Government Scientists, Climate Science Watch, Whistleblowers Climate Science Watch director Rick Piltz spoke at a Whistleblower Week in Washington event May 12, on a panel on “Scientific Freedom and the Public Good.” In addition to comments in response to questions about his own experience, he talked about the current situation with the Bush administration and the future direction of the federal climate research program and its relationship to society. See Details for full text.

]]> 2008-05-15T22:57:01-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/gerson_spinning/ In how he dismissed the conclusion that there has been a Republican war on science, Michael Gerson, former speechwriter and senior policy advisor to President Bush, struck an ethical pose in his May 7 Washington Post op-ed column but showed that he is still a spin doctor covering up for his former boss . General In how he dismissed the conclusion that there has been a Republican war on science, Michael Gerson, former speechwriter and senior policy advisor to President Bush, struck an ethical pose in his May 7 Washington Post op-ed column but showed that he is still a spin doctor covering up for his former boss .

]]> 2008-05-15T21:05:00-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/polar_bear_esa_implementation_ghg/ The May 14 decision to list the polar bear as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act “is a watershed event,” said Kassie Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity. But “The administration’s attempts to reduce protection to the polar bear from greenhouse gas emissions are illegal and won’t hold up in court.” Science-Policy Interaction The May 14 decision to list the polar bear as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act “is a watershed event,” said Kassie Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity. But “The administration’s attempts to reduce protection to the polar bear from greenhouse gas emissions are illegal and won’t hold up in court.”

]]> 2008-05-14T20:10:00-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/polar_bear_implementation/ Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat. In making the announcement, Kempthorne said, “I am also announcing that this listing decision will be accompanied by administrative guidance and a rule that defines the scope of impact my decision will have...to make certain the ESA isn’t abused to make global warming policies.” What does this mean, and what devil is in the details of how this decision will be implemented? Science-Policy Interaction Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat. In making the announcement, Kempthorne said, “I am also announcing that this listing decision will be accompanied by administrative guidance and a rule that defines the scope of impact my decision will have...to make certain the ESA isn’t abused to make global warming policies.” What does this mean, and what devil is in the details of how this decision will be implemented?

]]> 2008-05-14T17:55:01-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/cap_nepa_report/ A new report by the Center for American Progress proposes that the next President issue an Executive Order requiring climate change to be included as a consideration under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  “Government responsibilities are jeopardized by the lack of information about the consequences of federal actions for the emission of greenhouse gases and adaptation to changing climatic conditions,” the report says. Existing federal and state environmental laws and regulations—especially NEPA, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act— provide the requisite legal authority to begin to mitigate and adapt to climate change. “It is not necessary to wait for new legislation to take action.” Science-Policy Interaction A new report by the Center for American Progress proposes that the next President issue an Executive Order requiring climate change to be included as a consideration under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  “Government responsibilities are jeopardized by the lack of information about the consequences of federal actions for the emission of greenhouse gases and adaptation to changing climatic conditions,” the report says. Existing federal and state environmental laws and regulations—especially NEPA, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act— provide the requisite legal authority to begin to mitigate and adapt to climate change. “It is not necessary to wait for new legislation to take action.”

]]> 2008-05-10T02:50:01-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/whistleblower_week_science_panel/ Scientific censorship on a range of issues including climate change will be the subject of a panel as Government Accountability Project Whistleblower Week in Washington DC events kick off on May 12. Panelists will include Celia Wexler and Tim Donaghy of the Union of Concerned Scientists, FDA drug safety whistleblower David Ross, and Climate Science Watch director Rick Piltz. Climate Science Watch, Whistleblowers Scientific censorship on a range of issues including climate change will be the subject of a panel as Government Accountability Project Whistleblower Week in Washington DC events kick off on May 12. Panelists will include Celia Wexler and Tim Donaghy of the Union of Concerned Scientists, FDA drug safety whistleblower David Ross, and Climate Science Watch director Rick Piltz.

]]> 2008-05-09T02:48:00-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/suppressed_aviation_report/ Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are projected to trend sharply upwards, according to a suppressed report based on information contained in U.S., European, and UK government databases maintained by regulatory agencies (Environment News Service, May 7). The U.S. needs a strategic plan to limit aviation emissions associated with climate change.  Climate Change Preparedness Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are projected to trend sharply upwards, according to a suppressed report based on information contained in U.S., European, and UK government databases maintained by regulatory agencies (Environment News Service, May 7). The U.S. needs a strategic plan to limit aviation emissions associated with climate change. 

]]> 2008-05-08T17:12:02-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/qs_brennan_nomination/ Here are some questions that members of the Senate Commerce Committee should have asked of William J. Brennan, acting director of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, at his May 1 nomination hearing to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. U.S. Climate Change Science Program, Congressional Oversight Here are some questions that members of the Senate Commerce Committee should have asked of William J. Brennan, acting director of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, at his May 1 nomination hearing to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

]]> 2008-05-01T17:38:00-05:00 http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/rockefellers_exxon_leadership/ The UK Guardian reported on April 30: “The founding family behind ExxonMobil has embarrassed the board by joining critics of the world’s largest publicly-quoted oil company and called for a management shake-up which could change its attitude towards climate change. The Rockefeller family—which started Exxon’s predecessor, Standard Oil—are taking the unprecedented step of holding a press conference today at a hotel in New York where they will call for Rex Tillerson to hand over part of his responsibilities as both chairman and chief executive.” See Details for more on ExxonMobil and the global warming disinformation campaign. Global Warming Denial Machine The UK Guardian reported on April 30: “The founding family behind ExxonMobil has embarrassed the board by joining critics of the world’s largest publicly-quoted oil company and called for a management shake-up which could change its attitude towards climate change. The Rockefeller family—which started Exxon’s predecessor, Standard Oil—are taking the unprecedented step of holding a press conference today at a hotel in New York where they will call for Rex Tillerson to hand over part of his responsibilities as both chairman and chief executive.” See Details for more on ExxonMobil and the global warming disinformation campaign.

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