National Academy of Sciences President acknowledges climate guide author ties

Neil Shubin, President of the National Academy of Sciences, has acknowledged that authors of a climate science guide intended for federal judges had significant ties to plaintiffs in climate litigation. This admission follows the Academy's decision to remove a climate science section from its website and initiate an independent review of the production process.

Critics, including the American Energy Institute, have characterized the chapter in the ‘Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, Fourth Edition’ as litigation strategy rather than impartial science. Concerns have been raised regarding potential conflicts of interest and whether the chapter bypassed standard review processes.

Additionally, the ‘How Science Works’ chapter within the Federal Judicial Center's manual has faced scrutiny. Critics argue the text promotes the idea of scientific consensus as a primary driver of science, rather than debate, and allege that the authors possess activist leanings related to international climate negotiations.