WASHINGTON — On Thursday, leading climate scientists launched a coordinated response to a Department of Energy report they say cherry-picks data to undercut the scientific consensus on human-driven climate change.
“The report misuses our research to justify political goals,” said one author whose work was cited.
Contentious Findings
The DOE report maintains that concentrated CO₂ emissions may produce neutral or beneficial effects—like promoting plant growth—and deem United States contributions to global warming minor and delayed. Critics argue these conclusions misrepresent decades of peer-reviewed climate science.
Scientific Pushback
Scientists involved in the report say their work was distorted to downplay regulatory needs. The Environmental Defense Fund and Union of Concerned Scientists have filed a lawsuit alleging the federal report was created by a biased “Climate Working Group” and used unlawfully to justify deregulation.
Expert Concerns
Climate researchers and environmental groups fear that policy decisions made based on this flawed report could severely hinder U.S. efforts to meet climate goals and leave the nation less prepared for future impacts.