The Trump Administration Must Not Delay or Misrepresent Climate Science Report

Statement by Peter Frumhoff, Director of Science and Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists

Published Aug 8, 2017

WASHINGTON (August 8, 2017)—Federal scientists are waiting for approval from the Trump administration to publish a climate science report that contradicts the president and members of his cabinet who claim it’s not clear whether carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels is changing the climate.

The report is a special climate science section of the National Climate Assessment, which is congressionally mandated every four years. The White House is scheduled to sign off on the report in late August.

Below is a statement by Dr. Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“The Climate Science Special Report is first major assessment of climate science scheduled to be released by the Trump administration. It has gone through extensive peer-review, including by the National Academy of Sciences.

 “Let’s be clear: federal scientists’ concerns that the administration will try to change or suppress this report are well-founded. The Trump administration has consistently demonstrated its lack of regard for science and evidence, including on climate change.

“Though the president would prefer to think climate change is a hoax, it is all too real. The extensively reviewed report will be the latest scientific assessment to confirm and further our understanding that climate change is real, human-caused and poses significant risks to the health and well-being of our nation. The administration must not delay or misrepresent the findings of this important report.”