A number of scientists involved in a recent report have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the findings produced by the Department of Energy (DOE). Kim Cobb, a professor at Brown University specializing in Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences, expressed alarm over what she views as an attempt to undermine established scientific consensus. “By seeking to circumvent decades of work by the nation’s leading scientists, we’re seeing a departure from the established process of generating reliable climate science for policymaking,” said Cobb, who contributed to two sections of the review.
During the latter part of President Donald Trump’s administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated that it is reevaluating the 2009 endangerment finding. This ruling allows the agency to impose regulations on greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. In its rationale for potentially rescinding this finding, the EPA referenced the DOE’s climate report among various sources that led to its “serious concerns” regarding U.S. greenhouse gas regulation.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Cobb emphasized the necessity of defending the integrity of climate science, particularly at this critical juncture. “It’s crucial that we uphold the value of this research now more than ever,” she remarked.
Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a science policy analyst referenced in the DOE report, is skeptical that the attempt to revoke the endangerment finding will rest on the contents of that report. He posited that the administration’s focus is more on legal arguments than on scientific merit. “Considering the current Supreme Court, the endangerment finding could be challenged, but this will likely be driven by legal reasoning, not scientific evidence,” Pielke stated.
Moreover, Cobb expressed concern that as communities contend with the increasing impacts of hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding—issues that climate change has worsened—the federal government may be neglecting its most effective tools for helping citizens adapt to the realities of a changing climate.
“Science serves as a foundation for prosperity and safety,” she noted. “If we turn away from it, the implications will extend beyond climate science, impacting various facets of science and technology that are essential for our well-being, leading to significant consequences.”
This story originally appeared on Inside Climate News.
