Founded in 1987 and based in Oakland, California the Pacific Institute is an independent, nonpartisan think-tank studying issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security.A Congressional hearing on politicization of science will take place Tuesday morning.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), will be holding a hearing on "Allegations of Political Interference with the Work of Government Climate Change Scientists." For a preview of some of the material that will be discussed, check out the information that the Committee is requesting from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (letter - PDF) regarding editing of scientific reports and "other actions to minimize the significance of global warming." The hearing will begin at 10 a.m.
In an interview with E&E Daily shortly after the November elections, Rep. Waxman said of political interference in science, "Democrats are not going to sweep this issue under the rug. If the administration tries to censor scientists or sweep science under the rug, they're not going to get away with it."
As of today, witnesses include:
Dr. Drew Shindell, Goddard Institute for Space Studies, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Rick Piltz, former Senior Associate, U.S. Climate Change Science Program
Dr. Francesca Grifo, Senior Scientist and Director of the Scientific Integrity Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
Dr. Roger Pielke, Jr., Professor in the University of Colorado's Environmental Studies Program and a Fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences
It promises to be a rich hearing. We hope they stick to the investigation on interference and refrain from getting sidetracked on the subject of whether or not climate change is real.
Not sure if it's going to be on one of the C-SPANs, but you can check the schedule tomorrow here.
On a related note, E&E Daily (subscription required) is reporting that the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Government Accountability Project will be releasing a report with "new evidence of suppression and manipulation of climate science in seven federal agencies" in parallel to tomorrow's hearing.
The Senate Commerce Committee will be holding a related hearing next week.
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