National Academies climate science manual review

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has removed a climate science chapter from the fourth edition of its ‘Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence’ from its website. This action follows concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest and the impartiality of the content used by federal judges in climate-related litigation.

Initial reports indicated that the chapter may have relied on perspectives from legal professionals active in climate lawsuits, such as Michael Burger of Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Critics, including the American Energy Institute, have alleged that the text functions more as a “litigation strategy” than impartial science, suggesting the authors may have activist leanings.

Neil Shubin, President of the National Academy of Sciences, has acknowledged that the authors of the guide had significant ties to plaintiffs in climate litigation. In response to these concerns, the Academy has initiated an independent review of the production process to investigate whether standard review protocols were bypassed.