Senator Inhofe requests investigation into "Climategate"

According to a recent article by CNSNews, Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, has asked Chairman Barbara Boxer to investigate the issue of manipulation and falsification of data in the field of global warming. Inhofe believes the recent leak of emails between prominent climatologists reveal an intent to manipulate the data and research used by the US Global Change Research Program and the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Inhofe even suggested “a possible conspiracy by scientists, some of whom receive or have received US taxpayer funds, to stifle open, transparent debate on the most pressing issues of climate science," and “a campaign to vilify scientists who question global warming alarmism.”

Inhofe's concerns are not unfounded. The contents of the leaked documents from UEA's Hadley CRU disclose such gems of data falsification and outright deception such as,

I've just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps (emphasis added) to each series for the last 20 years (ie from 1981 onwards) amd from 1961 for Keith's to hide the decline (emphasis added). Mike's series got the annual land and marine values while the other two got April-Sept for NH land N of 20N. The latter two are real for 1999, while the estimate for 1999 for NH combined is +0.44C wrt 61-90. The Global estimate for 1999 with data through Oct is +0.35C cf. 0.57 for 1998.

 and

...you get to see somebody with the name of phil jones say that he would rather destroy the CRU data than release it (emphasis added) to McIntyre. And lots lots more. including how to obstruct or evade FOIA requests. and guess who funded the collection of cores at Yamal.. and transferred money into a personal account in Russia[.] And you get to see what they really say behind the curtain.. you get to see how they “shape” the news, how they struggled between telling the truth and making policy makers happy. [Y]ou get to see what they say about Idso and pat micheals, you get to read how they want to take us out into a dark alley, it’s stunning all very stunning. You get to watch somebody named phil jones say that John daly’s death is good news.. or words to that effect. I don’t know that its real.. But the CRU code looks real.

Combined with the more recent and quite convenient revelation that the original data on UEA's study on climate change was purportedly destroyed back in the 1980's, Inhofe appears to have a solid case upon which to base his theories of conspiracy. For without the original data, or facts, the study cannot be duplicated or properly peer reviewed. When the public does not have the facts, and thus any means by which to check the study, conspiracy theories are easily spun. Theories which, at the present time, given the contents of the leaked documents and the destruction of original data, look plausible to many.

The Climategate controversy “could have far-reaching policy implications,” Inhofe wrote, ”affecting everything from (to name a few) cap-and-trade legislation, state and regional climate change programs,” including Section 202 (a) of the EPA’s Clean Air Act. Policies such as these “will lead to a torrent of new federal regulations that will destroy thousands of jobs and make electricity and gasoline more expensive for consumers and small businesses.”

Can Americans afford additional job losses and increased expenses in the midst of an already ailing economy? Inhofe does not believe so. The fate of his suggested investigation, however, remains to be seen--even if its end result seems obvious with liberal Barbara Boxer at the helm. Americans must express their support for such an investigation with their representatives. The issue of climate change deception must be dealt with. Americans cannot allow it to be swept under the carpet or ignored. Their future, and their children's quality of life, depends on it.