OPINION:
As frigid Copenhagen prepares for the latest five-star global-warming conference, newly released e-mails by crisis-promoting scientists have exposed a cesspool of intimidation, data alteration and fraud.
Their views, data and models are central to reports by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Kyoto Protocol and proposed successors, and also U.S. cap-and-trade bills.
However, the Climategate e-mails reveal an unprecedented, systematic conspiracy to stifle discussion and debate, conceal and manipulate data, revise temperature trends that contradict predictions of dangerous warming, avoid compliance with Freedom of Information requests, and pressure scientific journals and the IPCC to publish alarmist studies and exclude dissenting analyses so as to manufacture “consensus.”
As people the world over are learning, East Anglia University Climate Research Unit (CRU) chief Phil Jones, Pennsylvania State University climatologist Michael E. Mann (of Hockey Stick graph infamy), IPCC lead author Kevin Trenberth, IPCC chief Rajendra Pachauri, White House science adviser John P. Holdren, and other climate-crisis leaders have been implicated in this growing scandal.
They, the White House and many in the mainstream media remain in denial, attempting to downplay or obfuscate the collusion and junk science. But the scope, depth, gravity and depravity of the conspiracy are incontrovertible.
These activists built their careers and reputations on conjuring data sets, computer models, scenarios and reports - all claiming that modern civilization’s use of hydrocarbons is about to destroy the planet and all financed by much more than $100 billion in U.S., British, European Union and other taxpayer money.
Realist climate experts have long smelled a rat. Now, finally, the rat has been flushed from its sewer. The stakes are infinitely higher than a James Bond baccarat or Texas Hold ‘Em card game.
This bogus, biased “science” is being used to justify expensive, intrusive, repressive, abusive treaties, laws and regulations. For developed nations, the new rules would undermine economies, destroy jobs, close down companies and entire industries, impoverish families and communities, roll back personal freedoms and civil rights - and enrich the lucky few whose lobbyists and connections may enable them to corner markets for renewable-energy technologies, carbon offsets and emissions trading.
For the most destitute people on the planet, the stakes are literally life or death. These people - 750 million in Africa alone - do not have electricity, cars, modern homes, jobs or hope for a better future. They die by the millions from malnutrition and lung, intestinal and insect-borne diseases that would be reduced dramatically with access to dependable, affordable energy.
But the alarmists’ bogus, biased “science” is being used to justify building a climate wall between these desperate people and the modern, energy-rich world, perpetuating misery, disease and death.
Mr. Jones, Mr. Mann, Mr. Trenberth, Mr. Pachauri and many others implicated in this growing scandal should do the honorable thing and resign their posts. If they refuse, they should be put on paid administrative leave until every aspect of this scandal can be investigated thoroughly. Dismissal, fines, jail or other appropriate action should follow. None of them should be allowed to represent their governments or organizations in Copenhagen.
Institutions that received climate-alarm grants should be disciplined and removed from future grant conduits if they knew about these actions - or would have known had they exercised due diligence.
The entire IPCC and peer-review process must be repaired. The alarmists and self-appointed censors who have corrupted the system must be replaced with scientists who will ensure honest inquiry and a full airing of all data, hypotheses and perspectives on climate science, economics and policy.
President Obama should cancel his trip to Copenhagen, his plans to lobby for a new climate treaty, and his intention to commit the United States to slashing its carbon dioxide emissions to a job-killing 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
Most important, the United States, Britain and all other responsible nations should slam the brakes on every proposed “climate crisis” treaty, agreement, bill, regulatory proposal, “endangerment” finding, and endangered species action. We must get to the bottom of this scandal and determine which data and claims are honest and accurate - and which are bogus, fraudulent and unfounded - before moving forward.
Something is indeed rotten in Denmark, and East Anglia. It is time to clean out the climate cesspool and bring integrity, transparency and accountability back to science, law, government, universities and public policy.
Paul Driessen is senior policy adviser for the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), which is sponsoring the All Pain No Gain petition against global-warming hype.
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