Top scientists are slamming a new Department of Energy (DOE) report for pushing debunked climate denial talking points under the guise of legitimate science.
Dennis Pillion reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The DOE's 150-page report claims climate change is less economically damaging than believed and suggests mitigation efforts could hurt more than help, contradicting established research.
- Climate scientists including Michael Mann and Andrew Dessler call the report deceptive, cherry-picked, and scientifically dishonest, recycling discredited claims while ignoring extensive peer-reviewed literature.
- The report, drafted by prominent climate contrarians, opens a 30-day public comment period, raising concerns that it could be used in legal battles to weaken climate regulations.
Key quote:
“It’s the usual mix of untruths, half-truths, and discredited if seemingly plausible claims we’ve come to expect from professional climate deniers and those who platform them.”
— Michael Mann, director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania
Why this matters:
In the latest volley of science versus spin, the Department of Energy has dropped a 150-page climate report that feels more like a love letter to fossil fuel interests than a serious attempt at policymaking. In a country where extreme heat is killing outdoor workers, wildfires are poisoning lungs, and hurricanes are drowning coastlines, casting doubt on settled climate science has serious social and economic consequences.
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