Posted: 07/20/2005
Barton Right to Question Research
NCPA Scholar Says Inquiry Should Be Required for All Publicly Funded Research
DALLAS (July 20, 2005) – Rep. Joe Barton’s (R-TX) request for scientific data and financial records from researchers, specifically, Michael E. Mann, who produced a series of widely publicized studies on global warming is not only justified but should be government policy for all major research, according to NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett.
“This study is being cited by environmentalists, lobbyists and foreign governments as proof that global warming not only is caused by humans but will soon become demonstrably worse,” Dr. Burnett said. “The social and financial costs of proposed public policies formulated in response to the study’s conclusions are enormous and fully justify Rep. Barton’s inquiry.”
Dr. Mann’s 1998 study, concluding that temperatures had skyrocketed over the last century, has been questioned by different research teams in six peer-reviewed articles. When the researchers who criticized the study’s findings requested data and methodology from Mann, he refused.
“All Rep. Barton is asking for is a full and open examination of the scientific work cited by environmental lobbyists pushing for energy use restrictions. But again, Mann and his colleagues are refusing. You have to ask why, and that’s exactly what Rep. Barton is doing,” Dr. Burnett added. “But the more disturbing question is – why aren’t reputable scientists and legislators asking the same question? We should rigorously and openly examine all publicly funded research, especially if it is used to formulate public policy.”
The president of the National Academy of Sciences has offered to appoint an independent panel to assess the scientific consensus on climate change. And that, according to Dr. Burnett, is the fundamental problem.
“We should only care about consensus that’s reached as a result of open scientific inquiry, which is only possible when data and methodologies are fully available for confirmation or critique,” Burnett added. “Dr. Mann’s refusal to share data and disclose methodology should have immediately raised red flags within the scientific community and the wider public policy audience. Regrettably, it didn’t, hasn’t and won’t.”