New twist in UEA climate change row
Last updated: 28/01/2010 10:03:00
Norwich’s flagship university was at the centre of a new row today after it emerged it broke the law by refusing to hand over its raw data for public scrutiny in the climate change row over stolen emails.
The reputation of the University of East Anglia’s world renowned climatic research unit (CRU)was shaken to the core last year after emails posted on the internet from researchers including its director Prof Phil Jones appeared to suggest ways of avoiding freedom of information requests together with a “trick” to explain away an apparent fall in global temperatures.
Police including a team from Scotland yard were called in to investigate amid speculation that the leaks were part of a smear campaign by climate change sceptics to discredit the UEA in the run up the Copenhagen summit last year.
Other theories were that the leaks were the work of a disgruntled insider angry at the way the university was handling FOI requests.
The row has reverberated around the world and it emerged today the Norwich university breached the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to comply with requests for data concerning claims by its scientists that man-made emissions were causing global warming.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) decided the UEA failed in its duties under the act but said it could not prosecute those involved because the complaint was made too late.
Read the complete story at Norwich Evening News
See the press release and background from ICO previously covered on WUWT here:
CRU inquiry prompts sought after changes in UK law, citing failure of CRU’s FOIA officer
Loophole in UK FOIA law will apparently allow CRU to avoid prosecution
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I live in East Anglia, and this is slow even for hereabouts! Surely there aren’t powerful vested interests (like millionaire lifestyles) at stake?
[REPLY – Even worse! It’s YOUR lifestyle that’s at stake. (Power over your lifestyle, that is.) ~ Evan]
The media smells blood in this story and they will hunt it down.Here in the uk the tipping point has been reached and we’re looking down the other side.
So they are guilty.
Where are all the hyennas this week? Last night Obama promoted nuclear power generation.
Surely it is possible to resubmit the requests for information? Then either they hand it over or they get prosecuted within the time frame?
There’s even been some progress in the American MSM:
Can Climate Forecasts Still Be Trusted?
Confidence Melting Away: Doubts Grow in Climate Change Debate
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=9685251
H/T ClimateDepot.com for the link
Jones is having a divergence problem with his fingers. He doesn’t look happy.
Since Jones says that the emails were “taken out of context” this is the perfect time to file requesting the release of every email and all the data so they can be put back into context, right?
The BBC finally gave some time on the 10.30 pm news tonight to the concerns over Global Warming claims, quoting the Government Scientific Adviser.
It was pretty lukewarm, but acknowledged that people are sceptical over the issue.
I think the tide is turning, but making governments change direction will require a lot more effort.
A few minutes after posting to Lucias site about the mails, I contacted
Andrew Revkin of the NYT and told him to Follow the FOIA.
Perhaps because of pressure he couldnt do that, or maybe other more pressing matters came up. he a good egg. nevertheless I’m glad to see the press on the real trail.
Hey we are on Lulu with an ebook version
http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/climategate-the-crutape-letters/8243144
[deleted due to policy violation – a valid email address is required]
[comment deleted due to policy violation]
REPLY: Ron, you are back to using an email address that goes nowhere – this is my second and last notice. A valid email address is required for all comments. – Anthony
The newspaper report starts off wrong but almost gets the story right, pretty good for most climate coverage I’ve seen in the press. I’m trying to figure out if the reporter just got confused or someone is trying to spin this. I cannot figure out the advantage to this type of spin so I’m inclined to accept that it was just a confused reporter but perhaps someone smarter than I can figure out how the mistake can benefit some spinner.
Major thing wrong in the story: UEA is not in trouble for refusing to hand over “raw data”, Holland did not FOIA raw data, he requested e-mails.
Shameless Plug Mosh.
Hang your head in shame. he he.
On topic, a lot of people wont admit they were conned. They just won’t.
Can you imagine how these people feel after giving Mt Olympus lectures with the might of the invincible pantheon of Gods on imminent Planetary doom, launching lightning bolts at anyone daring to challenge as heretics in need of a good crucifiction or stoning.
It’s been forced back down after back down.
(And before someone gets up my ribs, I know that Mosh and his mate have been doing their stuff at starvation for a long time).
The rational side of this debate has to do it with rubber bands and duct tape, no MSM assistance and stuff all Government support of any kind. Ad Hom atack and vilification.
I Like a bit of humor in a thread. This site has always been technical but there was time for some humor.
The Mann report is due tomorrow isn’t it?
REPLY: By Monday I believe, though if it’s embarrassing, they’ll likely release tomorrow at 5PM EST to minimize press coverage. -A
By God he’s aged hasn’t he
A lot of studies are now coming out.
One of course involves the quality of sites and it is out prematurely
A lot of attacks of an insult nature for skeptics. Even the Resident of the Whitehouse
Some of this is to fake looking busy. If you are not busy, you get laid off. If you don’t push out noise, your funding gets cut
We are seeing an explosion of dirty water claims, extinction of species (4-5)
and even a crisis like your green lawn is pure pollution.
The buzzword generators are busy. robest, devastating, life threating, tipping point etc ramp up the drama.
Hansen wants officers of corporations held in prison and tried later.
Is this spiritual warfare? Like the drug violence in Mexico?
I see from the news report that Prince Charles recently visited and pledged his support for the university’s climate work. That’s the kiss of death for them!
Well at least they’ve FINALLY taken a recent picture of Professor Jones instead of using that other picture that looked like it was taken in 1986. I was beginning to think that was the only picture of Jones in existence.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping the spotlight of public attention focused on the Climategate scandal.
Government support for basic scientific research has been historically based on national security in a world divided by competing national interests.
For many years I was therefore unable to understand why the NAS, NASA and DOE hid or ignored empirical evidence of an iron-rich Sun heated by neutron repulsion.
The Climategate scandal has recently exposed the shadowy image of the UN’s IPCC as part of an even larger international alliance of politicians, scientists, news media and publishers that have been using science as a propaganda tool to try to control the world.
On behalf of future generations I say again, “Thank you!”
With kind regards,
Oliver K. Manuel
Former NASA PI for Apollo
Emeritus Professor of
Nuclear & Space Science
[deleted due to policy violation – a valid email address is required.]
It seems that anthropogenic global warming promoters will turn to another story to attain their purposes of breaking down the first world economies and getting a global Brave New World ( AH1N1 or something like that). As you all know Europe and the USA production units now are located in third world countries…just to begin with, Germany was the first one to fell under the Green Spell with their Green Party…
It proves that if you search for fools you´ll find a lot up there.
So, don´t stick to the Climate Change/Global Warming story only. Search for other similar stories. This one, for all practical purposes IS OVER as far as the
chess pwans were exposed.
The more Newspaper articles and blogs and petitions the better, since the key thing is if enough public pressure mounts so that populist politicians begin to row back from unquestioning AGW support. Key here in the UK is David Cameron, leader of the Conservative party (centre – right but with liberal tendencies I think), who is quite likely the next PM. He is rather weak and populist IMHO, so swayable maybe. I shall write with a small campaign donation, which means some functionary will at least read it and probably count one more “sceptic” onto some computer record.
If their Manifesto (write up of policies) can have at least some statesman like concern that the science must be reviewed, or action paused to allow more facts to be gathered, it would be a great leap forward…
steven mosher (14:46:31) : “…he [Revkin] a good egg. nevertheless I’m glad to see the press on the real trail.
http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/climategate-the-crutape-letters/8243144 ”
Yeah, I think he is trying to be fair. Unfortunately, he’s been heavily propagandized and/or is afraid of something (the “Big Cutoff?”). If there’s anyone I’d like to wave my magic wand at and turn into a skeptic, it’s Andy Revkin.
David Holland was on the BBC 10 o’clock news
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8484385.stm
If I understand it correctly there are still data not yet revealed. So, if someone else were to ask for the data under the FOIA and immediately file a complaint…?