Trump Admin Seeks to Evade Lawsuit Over Dubious Climate Report

Feds Try to Dodge Lawsuit Against Bogus Climate Report The Trump administration has been accused of attempting to dodge a lawsuit against a draft Department of Energy report that questioned the mainstream understanding of climate change. The report, prepared by a handful of carefully chosen fringe figures, was widely criticized for its shoddy work and questionable conclusions. According to court documents, the Department of Energy is claiming that it dissolved the committee that prepared the report, making the lawsuit moot. However, critics argue that this move is an attempt to avoid accountability for the report's shortcomings. The report in question was a draft document prepared by the Department of Energy's Advisory Board on Climate Change and Human Health. The board was tasked with providing scientific advice on climate change mitigation strategies. However, the report's conclusions were at odds with the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. An analysis of the report by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that it contained numerous errors and inaccuracies, including misrepresentations of scientific data and cherry-picked statistics. The report also failed to acknowledge the significant body of evidence supporting human-caused climate change. The lawsuit, filed by a group of scientists and environmental organizations, alleges that the Department of Energy's actions in preparing the report violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). FACA regulates the activities of federal advisory panels and requires them to operate in an open and transparent manner. "We are not surprised that the Trump administration is trying to dodge accountability for this shoddy report," said Dr. Brenda Ekwurzel, a climate scientist and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. "But we will continue to fight for transparency and accountability in the face of this administration's attempts to undermine the science on climate change." The Department of Energy has maintained that the report was simply a draft document and not a final product. However, critics argue that the report's conclusions were widely disseminated by the department and used to inform policy decisions. Meanwhile, Congress is also attempting to muddy the waters. In response to the lawsuit, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman of the House Science Committee, has introduced legislation aimed at limiting the role of federal advisory panels in informing climate change policy. "This bill will ensure that science advisors are not used as a tool for advancing a particular agenda," said Smith. "We need to get back to using sound science to inform our policies, rather than relying on partisan politics." The lawsuit against the Department of Energy is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether the department's claims of dissolving the advisory board will hold up in court. Background: The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) was enacted in 1972 to regulate the activities of federal advisory panels. FACA requires that these panels operate in an open and transparent manner, with clear guidelines for their role and responsibilities. Additional Perspectives: Dr. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Penn State University, has been critical of the report's conclusions. "This report is a perfect example of how science can be manipulated to serve a particular agenda," he said. "We need to be vigilant in ensuring that our scientific advice is based on sound evidence and not partisan politics." Current Status: The lawsuit against the Department of Energy is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for later this month. The department's claims of dissolving the advisory board are being challenged by the plaintiffs, who argue that the report's conclusions were widely disseminated and used to inform policy decisions. Next Developments: The outcome of the lawsuit will have significant implications for the role of federal advisory panels in informing climate change policy. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could lead to greater transparency and accountability in the preparation of scientific reports by the Department of Energy. *Reporting by Arstechnica.*