[Vision2020] American Association for the Advancement of Science Reaffirms Statements on Climate Change and Integrity

[Ted Moffett]

http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2009/1204climate_statement.shtml

AAAS Reaffirms Statements on Climate Change and Integrity

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has
reaffirmed the position of its Board of Directors and the leaders of 18
respected organizations, who concluded based on multiple lines of scientific
evidence that global climate change caused by human activities is now
underway, and it is a growing threat to society.

“The vast preponderance of evidence, based on years of research conducted by
a wide array of different investigators at many institutions, clearly
indicates that global climate change is real, it is caused largely by human
activities, and the need to take action is urgent,” said Alan I. Leshner,
chief executive officer of AAAS and executive publisher of the journal *
Science.*

AAAS expressed grave concerns that the illegal release of private emails
stolen from the University of East Anglia should not cause policy-makers and
the public to become confused about the scientific basis of global climate
change. Scientific integrity demands robust, independent peer review,
however, and AAAS therefore emphasized that investigations are appropriate
whenever significant questions are raised regarding the transparency and
rigor of the scientific method, the peer-review process, or the
responsibility of individual scientists. The responsible institutions are
mounting such investigations.

AAAS is not itself an investigative body, Leshner emphasized, but the
Association will carefully evaluate the conclusions of appropriate
authorities who have been asked to review the emails. Selectively publicized
language in messages exchanged over a number of years among several
scientists has been interpreted by some to suggest unethical actions such as
data manipulation or suppression.

“AAAS takes issues of scientific integrity very seriously,” Leshner said.
“It is fair and appropriate to pursue answers to any allegations of
impropriety. It’s important to remember, though, that the reality of climate
change is based on a century of robust and well-validated science.”

The AAAS Board of Directors asserted in a
statement<http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/mtg_200702/aaas_climate_statement.pdf>issued
9 December 2006 that “the scientific evidence is clear: global
climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a
growing threat to society.” Clear evidence of climate change is based upon
“accumulating data from across the globe” that reveals “a wide array of
effects: rapidly melting glaciers, increases in extreme weather, rising sea
levels, shifts in species ranges, and more,” the AAAS Board reported.
Reliable sensor data show an upturn in average temperatures for at least the
past 30 years.

The AAAS Board noted that “the pace of change and the evidence of harm have
increased markedly over the last five years. The time to control greenhouse
gas emissions is now.”

AAAS joined the leaders of 17 other leading organizations in signing a
letter <http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2009/media/1021climate_letter.pdf>sent
21 October 2009 to the U.S. Senate, emphasizing based upon rigorous
research that human-induced climate change is ongoing and will have broad
impacts on society—including the global economy and the environment.
4 December 2009
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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
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