Union of Concerned Scientists' compilation of the Scientific Consensus

This is the final repost in my little walk down memory lane, in honor of the Paris Climate Conference, (well and also for my pal AL with his gross misunderstanding of what science and the human learning process is all about.  This was originally posted at my Citizenschallenge Blog over four years ago.  It is a bit out of date, still the information it holds has been reaffirmed with each succeeding year - despite the fact that the Republican/libertarian community refuse to recognize or consider any of it.

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Here is a list compiled by the Union of Concerned Scientists presenting the “consensus” as formalized by a great many scientific organizations.

I've done this because the way the contrarian community has bastardized the notion of expert consensus.  This information becomes more important with every new unreasoned politically motivated attack on science we witness. Thus, it is worth considering in more detail, and that's why I've brought it up at a couple discussion boards, now I've got this collection of supporting documentation to point to.

Scientific Consensus on Global Warming
http://www.ucsusa.org/ssi/climate-change/scientific-consensus-on.html

Scientific societies and scientists have released statements and studies showing the growing consensus on climate change science.

A common objection to taking action to reduce our heat-trapping emissions has been uncertainty within the scientific community on whether or not global warming is happening and if it is caused by humans. However, there is now an overwhelming scientific consensus that global warming is indeed happening and humans are contributing to it. Below are links to documents and statements attesting to this consensus. 

Instigators of "seepage" Case Studies on the Abuses of Science, UCS

I've been preoccupied with other concerns lately so haven't done much on this project.   Still in doing some thinking about it I did remember this Union of Concerned Scientists collection of studies that seem to me classic examples of "seepage in action."  

1. Check it out.  An example of the actual dynamics in action.  In this instance the Bush Administration, their muzzling of scientists, and artful misrepresentations and always raising the expectations of proof.  
   
   I think it's a good addition to my collection.
   At the end I include a list of the full series 
   Union of Concerned Scientists 
   "Abuses of Science: Case Studies"   
   
   Consider it background history and a peek at how the Republicans "instigate scientific seepage."
   

   Highlights: 2001, President George W. Bush established the U.S. Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI). One of the initiative’s two main priorities was to study “areas of uncertainty” in global climate change science. 

   May 2002, President Bush expressed disdain for a State Department report to the United Nations that pointed to a clear human role in the accumulation of heat-trapping gases and detailed the likely negative consequences of climate change ...   

   September 2002, removed a section on climate change from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual air pollution report, ... 

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   Abuses of Science: Case Studies

http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/promoting-scientific-integrity/manipulation-of-global.html

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2. CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND DEMOCRACY
3. PROMOTING SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY

Manipulation of Global Warming Science

NOTE: The following is one of a series of case studies produced by the Union of Concerned Scientists' Scientific Integrity Program between 2004 and 2010 to document the abuses highlighted in our 2004 report, Scientific Integrity in Policy Making.

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Since taking office, the George W. Bush administration has consistently sought to undermine the view held by the vast majority of climate scientists that human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases are making a discernible contribution to global warming.1  Despite promises by the president that “my Administration’s climate change policy will be science-based,”2 the past several years have seen widespread political interference in the work of federal climate scientists, edits to official scientific documents and a general attempt to foster uncertainty about robust scientific conclusions.

Is misinformation about climate science criminally negligent? Lawrence Torcello

In researching my previous debate blogpost I came onto the story of Professor Lawrence Torcello in an article at the Union of Concerned Scientist blog (Yeah, they are on the Republican enemies list too, it's tough not to be).  Torcello finally enunciated something I've been struggling with and that's at the heart of all these posts I keep putting up.

How should society contend with those who knowingly disseminate misinformation about climate science.

It started with an article he wrote for 'The Conversation' where he discussed the Italian trial of geologists in the wake of the 2009 earthquake.  There's no point in retelling it since his Conversation article does a better job and thanks to their Creative Commons License I have permission to reprint all of it.  Following that I've included the full text of the Union of Concerned Scientists article.  I've added some highlights.

Food for thought.

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The Conversation

https://theconversation.com/is-misinformation-about-the-climate-criminally-negligent-23111

Lawrence Torcello  |  March 13, 2014

Is misinformation about the climate criminally negligent?

The importance of clearly communicating science to the public should not be underestimated. Accurately understanding our natural environment and sharing that information can be a matter of life or death. When it comes to global warming, much of the public remains in denial about a set of facts that the majority of scientists clearly agree on. With such high stakes, an organised campaign funding misinformation ought to be considered criminally negligent.

The earthquake that rocked L'Aquila Italy in 2009 provides an interesting case study of botched communication. This natural disaster left more than 300 people dead and nearly 66,000 people homeless. In a strange turn of events six Italian scientists and a local defence minister were subsequently sentenced to six years in prison.

The ruling is popularly thought to have convicted scientists for failing to predict an earthquake. On the contrary, as risk assessment expert David Ropeik pointed out, the trial was actually about the failure of scientists to clearly communicate risks to the public. The convicted parties were accused of providing “inexact, incomplete and contradictory information”. As one citizen stated:

We all know that the earthquake could not be predicted, and that evacuation was not an option. All we wanted was clearer information on risks in order to make our choices.

Crucially, the scientists, when consulted about ongoing tremors in the region, did not conclude that a devastating earthquake was impossible in L’Aquila. But, when the Defence Minister held a press conference saying there was no danger, they made no attempt to correct him. I don’t believe poor scientific communication should be criminalised because doing so will likely discourage scientists from engaging with the public at all.

UCS | Our Analysis of abuses of science

This is part two of the previous list, I'm posting it simply to expose it to a larger audience and to add this information to my collection of resources for those interested in better understanding the ways of the Republican/libertarian war on science.

With much thanks to the Union of Concerned Scientists

Abuses of Science - http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/abuses_of_science/

ABUSES OF SCIENCE BASICS Business Trade Groups Drive Anti-Regulation Effort in Congress Science under Attack: Threats to Scientific Inquiry and Academic Freedom Expand in Virginia and Elsewhere Timeline: Legal Harassment of Climate Scientist Michael Mann A Scientist Letter to the Senate Concerning Science in the Endangered Species Act House Majority Launches Attack on Science, Public Health, and the Environment Virginia scientists and academic leaders ask Virginia attorney general to drop misguided investigation FDA Medical Device Approval based on Politics, not Science Surveys of Scientists at Federal Agencies 2008 Scientist Statement: Scientific Freedom and the Public Good 2004 Scientist Statement on Restoring Scientific Integrity to Federal Policy Making

IN DEPTH LOOK AT ABUSES OF SCIENCE Focus on Biodiversity and Endangered Species: Scientific Integrity at the Department of Interior Focus on Environmental Protection: Interference at the EPA Focus on Climate Science: Atmosphere of Pressure (2007)

OUR ANALYSIS OF ABUSES OF SCIENCE A Climate of Corporate Control (2012) FDA Survey Shows Progress, But Issues Remain How Corporations Corrupt Science at the Public's Expense (2012) Survey: FDA and USDA Scientists (2010) Minerals Management Service Accused of Errors and Violations in Offshore Oil Drilling Program Freedom to Speak? A Report Card on Federal Agency Media Policies (2008) Survey: EPA Scientists (2007) Scientific Integrity in Policy Making (July 2004)

TOOLS & RESOURCES FOR IDENTIFYING ABUSES IN SCIENCE Science in an Age of Scrutiny: How Scientists Can Respond to Criticism and Personal Attacks (2012) A Climate of Corporate Control (2012): Company Profiles Survey: FDA and USDA Scientists (2010) - Driving the Fox from the Henhouse - Frequently Asked Questions

Last Revised: 11/26/08

Also see:  http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/
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Heads They Win,Tails We Lose
How Corporations Corrupt Science at the Public’s Expense

http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/scientific_integrity/how-corporations-corrupt-science.pdf 

UCS | Scientific Integrity News archives 'attack on science' < 2008

I came across an interesting archive put together by the Union of Concerned Scientists it's a sampling of media coverage of political interference in science, such as shutting down EPA libraries, censoring any number of scientists and studies/reports, and so on.

It's good information to have on hand next time some contrarian tries feeding you Dr. Lindzen's canard that scientist who disagree with the AGW consensus are too afraid to speak out.  It's actually the other way around.  

In keeping with my mission here at WUWTW to examine and expose the ways of climate science denialists and other contrarians for profit I'm mirroring UCS's list.  Sadly it is a bit outdated {If anyone knows of another more recent collection of such information please share.}.  Still being familiar with the historical record of this past decade is important and it speak for itself.  

Here's your quick'n dirty UCS collection of reports on the Republican/Libertarian war on science.

Scientific Integrity News Archives

Union of Concerned Scientists

http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/abuses_of_science/si-news-archives.html

This archive has a sampling of the media coverage of political interference in science since UCS released its first scientific integrity report in 2004. The coverage is organized into issues; articles that address the misuse of science in general, or were not easily categorized, are represented in "Other Scientific Integrity News."

For the most recent news, click here.

Examine articles on specific issues: