An Open Letter to Congress From US Scientists on Climate Change and Recently Stolen Emailsby Climate ExpertsAs U.S. scientists with substantial expertise on climate change and its impacts on natural ecosystems, our built environment and human well-being, we want to assure policy makers and the public of the integrity of the underlying scientific research and the need for urgent action to reduce heat-trapping emissions. In the last few weeks, opponents of taking action on climate change have misrepresented both the content and the significance of stolen emails to obscure public understanding of climate science and the scientific process.We would like to set the record straight.The body of evidence that human activity is the dominant cause of global warming is overwhelming. The content of the stolen emails has no impact whatsoever on our overall understanding that human activity is driving dangerous levels of global warming. The scientific process depends on open access to methodology, data, and a rigorous peer-review process. The robust exchange of ideas in the peer-reviewed literature regarding climate science is evidence of the high degree of integrity in this process.As the recent letter (1) to Congress from 18 leading U.S. scientific organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union, and the American Meteorological Society, states: “Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research demonstrates that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver. These conclusions are based on multiple independent lines of evidence, and contrary assertions are inconsistent with an objective assessment of the vast body of peer-reviewed science. … If we are to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change, emissions of greenhouse gases must be dramatically reduced.”These “multiple independent lines of evidence” are drawn from numerous public and private research centers all across the United States and beyond, including several independent analyses of surface temperature data. Even without including analyses from the UK research center from which the emails were stolen, the body of evidence underlying our understanding of human-caused global warming remains robust.We urge you to take account of this as you make decisions on climate policy.^ = Member of National Academy of SciencesInstitutional affiliation for identification purposes onlySigned:David Archer, Ph.D.ProfessorDepartment of the Geophysical SciencesUniversity of ChicagoChicago, ILWilliam C. Clark, Ph.D.^Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy, and Human DevelopmentJohn F. Kennedy School of GovernmentHarvard UniversityCambridge, MAPeter C. Frumhoff, Ph.D.Director of Science and PolicyChief Scientist, Climate CampaignUnion of Concerned ScientistsCambridge, MAInez Fung, Ph.D.^Professor of Atmospheric ScienceCo-Director, Berkeley Institute of the EnvironmentUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CANeal Lane, Ph.D.ProfessorRice UniversityFormer Director, National Science FoundationFormer Director, White House Office of Science and Technology PolicyHouston, TXMichael MacCracken, Ph.D.Chief Scientist for Climate Change ProgramsThe Climate InstituteWashington, DCPamela Matson, Ph.D.^ProfessorSchool of Earth SciencesStanford UniversityStanford, CAJames J. McCarthy, Ph.D.Alexander Agassiz Professor of Biological OceanographyHarvard UniversityCambridge, MAJerry Melillo, Ph.D.Senior Scientist and Director EmeritusThe Ecosystems CenterMarine Biological LaboratoryWoods Hole, MAEdward L. Miles, Ph.D.^Bloedel Professor of Marine Studies and Public AffairsSchool of Marine AffairsCo-Director, Center for Science in the Earth System, JISAOUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WAMario J. Molina, Ph.D.^Scripps Institution of OceanographyUniversity of California, San DiegoNobel Laureate, ChemistrySan Diego, CAEllen Mosley-Thompson, Ph.D.^Director, Byrd Polar Research CenterProfessor of Geography and University Distinguished ScholarThe Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OHGerald R. North, Ph.D.Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and OceanographyTexas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TXMichael Oppenheimer, Ph.D.Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International AffairsDepartment of Geosciences and Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International AffairsPrinceton UniversityPrinceton, NJJonathan T. Overpeck, Ph.D.Co-Director, Institute of the EnvironmentProfessorDepartment of GeosciencesDepartment of Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of ArizonaTucson, AZRonald G. Prinn, Ph.D.TEPCO Professor of Atmospheric ScienceDirector, Center for Global Change ScienceCo-Director, Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global ChangeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MAAlan Robock, Ph.D.Distinguished ProfessorRutgers UniversityPresident, Atmospheric Sciences Section, American Geophysical UnionChair-Elect, Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Sciences Section, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceNew Brunswick, NJBenjamin D. Santer, Ph.D.Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and IntercomparisonLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLivermore, CAWilliam H. Schlesinger, Ph.D.^President, Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesMillbrook, NYDaniel P. Schrag, Ph.D.Sturgis Hooper Professor of GeologyProfessor of Environmental Science and EngineeringDirector, Harvard University Center for the EnvironmentCambridge, MADrew Shindell, Ph.D.Senior ScientistNASA Goddard Institute for Space StudiesNew York, NYRichard C. J. Somerville, Ph.D.Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Research ProfessorScripps Institution of OceanographyUniversity of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CAWarren M. Washington, Ph.D.Senior ScientistNational Center for Atmospheric ResearchBoulder, CODonald J. Wuebbles, Ph.D. The Harry E. Preble Professor of Atmospheric SciencesDepartment of Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignUrbana, ILCarl Wunsch, Ph.D.^Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physical OceanographyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA (1)
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2009/media/1021climate_letter.pdf