Scope of hacked climate email review announced

The University of East Anglia in the U.K. today announced the scope and leadership of an independent inquiry into the hacking of emails among climate scientists that critics say revealed efforts to suppress data.

The inquiry will review the emails, and other messages and information, held by the school’s Climatic Research Unit “to determine whether there is any evidence of the manipulation or suppression of data which is at odds with acceptable scientific practice and may therefore call into question any of the research outcomes,” the school announced.

It will also explore several other areas, such as CRU’s policies for acquiring data and research and subjecting it to peer review.

Several Capitol Hill Republicans who oppose mandatory emissions curbs, along with other climate skeptics, allege the years of messages show that prominent climate scientists have sought to squelch information that undercuts the case that global warming is occurring.

But the scientists and other advocates of curbing greenhouse gas emissions say the messages have been taken out of context, and do nothing to dent evidence of human-induced warming.

The probe, to be completed next spring, will be headed by Sir Muir Russell, who chairs the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland and is a former principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow.