US Dept. of Energy secretary assembled climate skeptics to shape report challenging science
Energy Secretary Chris Wright recruited a group of long-standing climate skeptics to produce a Department of Energy study now being used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to justify rolling back greenhouse gas regulations.
Benjamin Storrow reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Wright personally called scientists known for disputing mainstream climate science, including Roy Spencer, Judith Curry, John Christy, Steven Koonin, and Ross McKitrick, to draft a DOE climate report.
- The 141-page study questions the accuracy of climate models, the risks of sea-level rise, and links between fossil fuel use and extreme weather; it is cited 16 times in EPA’s proposal to rescind the endangerment finding for greenhouse gases.
- Critics accuse the authors of cherry-picking data and advancing a political agenda, while Wright and contributors say they aimed to broaden the climate debate.
Key quote:
“There’s a risk that has real consequences in lives and property if society as a whole ignores the changes that are taking place.”
— John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas state climatologist and professor of atmospheric science at Texas A&M University
Why this matters:
The scientific consensus is that greenhouse gas emissions are driving rapid climate change, raising sea levels, intensifying storms, and disrupting ecosystems. When influential government agencies elevate research from a narrow band of contrarian voices, it can muddy public understanding and influence policy in ways that slow or reverse mitigation efforts. Such shifts have implications not just for global climate targets but for local resilience planning, disaster preparedness, and public health. Delaying action can amplify future costs as communities face more frequent flooding, extreme heat, and crop failures. For environmental health, the stakes include greater exposure to air pollution and disease risks tied to shifting climate zones, making the direction of U.S. climate policy consequential far beyond the political arena.
