Climate Science in the Political Arena
Channel: HouseResourceOrg
Date: 2011-04-17

Climate Science in the Political Arena - Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming - 2010-05-20 - The scientists involved in the stolen climate emails from the University of East Anglia were exonerated by the British House of Commons and an international panel of climate experts, led by Lord Oxburgh. Even after these investigations found that nothing in the emails undercut the scientific evidence of climate change, attacks against scientists continue. Reports of harassment, death threats and legal challenges have created a hostile environment, making it challenging for actual data and scientific analyses to reach the public and policymakers. On Thursday, May 20th, the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming held a hearing to examine the intersection between climate science and the political process.  This hearing, entitled "Climate Science in the Political Arena," featured prominent climate scientists, some of whom have been the target of these attacks. This hearing explored scientists' ability to present data and information that can guide global warming solutions in a sometimes fierce political landscape. WITNESSES: Dr. Ralph Cicerone, President of the National Academy of Sciences and Chair of the National Research Council; Dr. Mario Molina, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Professor, University of California at San Diego; Dr. Stephen Schneider, Professor, Stanford University; Dr. Ben Santer, Research Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Dr. William Happer, Professor, Princeton University.  Video provided by the U.S. House of Representatives.