Stringer grills Rees

Jul 27, 2010
Bishop Hill in Climate: Parliament

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee questioned Martin Rees today, and Graham Stringer chose to use his time to ask about the effect of Climategate on confidence in climate science. Some highlights of Rees' responses:

• CRU scientists exonerated
• IPCC procedures need to be modified to restore confidence
• Need to have protocols to ensure that data is made available to anyone who is able to analyse it. [Check that wording carefully]
• Lessons have been learned and Rees expects that scientists will share their data with genuine inquirers.
• Stringer asks if the science should be looked at. Rees disagrees that science not looked at.

There are two things to take away from this. Firstly, it is quite clear that Oxburgh did not look at the science, because he said so. It is extraordinary to see Rees telling the panel otherwise. Secondly, if one reads between the lines it seems clear that Rees is going to put the Royal Society's weight behind a shift away from the scientific method, so that data becomes available only to those who will not rock the boat.

Video is here and Stringer's questions start at 37:25.

Article originally appeared on (http://www.bishop-hill.net/).