Barton Asks GAO, National Research Council To Advise on Congress’ Use of Climate Data Opening Statement of U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas University of Pennsylvania climatologist Dr. Michael Mann, whose seminal work on global warming is driving global policy on climate change, explains his theory as the president of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Ralph Cicerone, looks on. Mann testified at a hearing which focused on his “hockey stick” theory, and on whether it could be questioned. “I can’t accept the improbable notion that that this committee may not ask science- or research-related questions that bear on policymaking,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, at the hearing. WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, delivered the following statement today as part of an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Questions Surrounding the ‘Hockey Stick’ Temperature Studies: Implications for Climate Change Assessments”: “Thank you, Chairman Whitfield. I want to thank our witnesses for being here, some of them for the second time. We’re obviously glad to have Dr. Mann here. We appreciate you being able to join us. “It’s clear from last week’s hearing on global climate temperature studies that we face issues involving more than the particulars of Dr. Mann’s specific ‘hockey stick’ studies. However, it is the particulars of these studies – and how the existing climate assessment process dealt with them – that got us here today. “I appreciate the participation of this panel. I’m glad that Dr. Ralph Cicerone is here. He’s the president of the National Academy of Sciences and I think he’s going to add significant weight and gravitas to the hearing today. “As you noted, Chairman Whitfield, last week’s hearing demonstrated why we as policymakers need to understand the quality and reliability of the science on which we are urged to base public policy that is both sweeping and costly. Some very respected and authoritative sources testified last week that Dr. Mann’s studies were flawed. They couldn’t support the findings for which they were used in the United Nation’s climate change assessment, the IPCC. Today I hope we can examine some of these issues in more detail. “I recognize that additional work has been published that supports the broad outline of some of those conclusions in Dr. Mann’s initial ‘hockey stick’ study but, according to the National Research Council, even that subsequent work cannot provide the level of confidence that IPCC placed upon the original hockey stick analysis. “Nothing about the process of turning observations into accepted theory is smooth. It’s been said that the politics of small towns and big universities are brutal and make us look amateurish by comparison. Looking at what’s happening in this issue, I think that might well be true. Unfortunately, that’s the way that science progresses. I not only accept it – bumps included – but, believe it or not, I support it. “What I can’t accept is the improbable notion that this committee may not ask science or research-related questions that bear on policymaking when the answers could improve the information we use to reach the policy decisions that we’re elected to make. It’s just wrong to say that questions are not permitted, free debate is improper, or that anyone who wonders if the scientific establishment really has it right should be dismissed as anti-science or oblivious to the real risks of manmade climate change. This committee holds a very key role in any policymaking decision related to climate change. As its chairman, I have an obligation to be cognizant of that and to do everything possible to get a fair record, but also get into the details of some of the theories that the recommended policies are supposedly based upon. “We are interested in Dr. Mann’s work, not because of Dr. Mann, as nice a fellow as he may or may not be. We’re interested in Dr. Mann’s work because it was the original, it was the seminal, it’s referred to. I haven’t seen Vice President Gore’s movie, but I’m told in that movie Dr. Mann’s hockey stick diagram is shown repeatedly. It’s only fair to take a look at the original, seminal work to see if it really lives up to what it claims to be. “During our last hearing, we were shrugged at for asking about that particular study, saying it was too early, too distant. But the fact is that that particular study is the study that much of the latter conclusions have been based upon. It’s only common sense to take a look at it. “We’re going to work on the issue. If it turns out that that study is not the right study and that there are more current studies that are more correct, we’ll take a look at those, too, and we’ll find out what the truth is. The truth is the truth. The truth may be inconvenient, it may be politically incorrect but the truth is the truth. “A couple of months ago, Chairman Whitfield and I asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to help us examine federal data sharing policies, especially as they related to climate change research. This work will help our efforts to improve the exchange of scientific data and other essential information – which as we have seen has been a particular problem in the climate change arena. “When the dust settles on these hearings, I’m going to prepare a request to the National Research Council, which Dr. Cicerone chairs, to take some of the issues that Dr. Wegman and others have raised and take a look at it. I’m going to ask for a study to assess how to include a wider spectrum of scientific disciplines in climate change research so that we can be enlightened by the very best work across the field of scientific research. I’m going to ask that this study be coordinated and run though the NRC’s Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, so that we can ensure that the disciplines like mathematics, physics, and statistics participate up front. I’d be happy to hear any of Dr. Cicerone’s comments on that today as we go forward. “Letting a wider scientific community address questions about climate change assessments can only help the process and improve the results. We have an obligation on this committee on behalf of the American people to ensure that the decision-makers have the best information possible, not just the politically correct information.” “I want to thank again our panel for coming. I want to especially thank Dr. Mann for changing his schedule to be here. I look forward to a very productive exchange of views as we go forward today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.” ####