AIBS has joined the American Meteorological Society, the American Statistical Association, the Ecological Society of America, and the Woodwell Climate Research Center in releasing a statement in response to the decision by the Federal Judiciary Center (FJC) to remove the climate science chapter from the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, Fourth Edition and a February letter from 21 state attorneys general urging the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to omit similar guidance regarding climate change.
The statement on “Public Availability of Scientific Information and Scientific Evidence on Climate Change” emphasizes that the removed chapter reflects the broad scientific conclusions reached through decades of rigorous research and comprehensive assessments conducted by thousands of independent scientists and scientific organizations.
The groups warn that removing this material could limit access by public officials—including those in the legal system—to the best available scientific understanding of climate change, while also potentially discouraging scientists from contributing expertise to public decision-making.
The statement reaffirms that climate change is occurring at an unprecedented rate, driven primarily by human activity. The organizations call for the immediate reinstatement of the climate science chapter to ensure judicial decisions are informed by rigorous, consensus-based evidence.
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