Global Warming: The Tide Turns For Senators

As many of you know I am very interested in seeing legitimate science research investigate the claims of anthropogenic global climate change, and while I do believe that some scientists are making legitimate efforts I also believe that there have been an overwhelming presentation of sensationalist media analysis supporting conclusions that the science to-date does not support.

In the not-too-distant past there was an unauthorized release of critical emails uncovering specific efforts to hide climate statistics, fool the public and supress the voice of scientists with alernative explanations and conclusions. A number of those emails were from high ranking individuals leading efforts in researching AGW related science.

I decided to take a moment and write my senators here in Virginia and ask them to rightly investigate these and other issues before simply supporting AGW political decisions about carbon-consumption. I just received an email in reply this morning:

April 13, 2010

Mr. Steve McDonald
320 23rd St S #403
Arlington, VA 22202-3749

Dear Mr. McDonald:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the recent leak of emails at the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

The Climate Research Unit (CRU) is a reputable independent scientific research center, well-known for producing new methods of measuring greenhouse gas emissions. In November 2009, the CRU server was breached and several thousand documents and emails were released without authorization. Some of the documents may suggest the alteration of scientific data relating to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. While under investigation, the Director of the CRU, Phil Jones, has stepped aside pending an independent review.

Please be assured that my staff and I will continue to monitor the forthcoming results of the investigation. The issue of scientific integrity is of great importance and I hope that you will continue to share your views with us in the years ahead. I would also invite you to visit my website at www.webb.senate.gov for regular updates about my activities and positions on matters that are important to Virginia and our nation.

Thank you once again for contacting my office.

Sincerely,

Jim Webb
United States Senator

This email doesn't quite go so far as to investigate the content of those emails.  In fact, like any typical politician, Jim Webb is leaving wiggle room here by reserving any judgement, but frankly that is what I had hoped for and so it is better to truly investigate rather than simply go along with the sensationalist media without personally investigating. The truth is that the emails have been verrified by third party individuals willing to say stuff like "Yes, I was in that email thread and that is what the email said." Politicians just aren't willing to trust the content of stolen emails (well, unless those emails support their cause diffinitively. Earlier this year a number of emails were leaked from presidential candidates and while they revealed nothing, many senators were quick to join the sensationalist media and speculate about the content of those emails.) In the case of the emails from the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in the UK, they are damning as they clearly mention cover-up tactics (or the need for better cover-up tactics) including encouraging the non-compliance of legal obligations like the freedom of information act that exists in both the UK and the US. So when Jim Webb says "some of the documents may suggest the alteration of scientific data" he isn't saying that the emails may not contain that information but that the investigation should prove that the emails are legitimate.

So I think this investigation initiative is new, and we will see what it renders and how it affects Congress.