Climatic Research Unit - E-mail Controversy

E-mail Controversy

In November 2009, hackers gained access to a server used by the CRU and stole a large quantity of data, anonymously posting online more than 1,000 emails and more than 2,000 other documents. Some climate change sceptics and bloggers asserted that a number of the leaked e-mails contain evidence that scientists had conspired to manipulate data and to keep scientists who have contrary views out of peer-review literature. The controversy was also known as "Climategate". All these accusations were denied by CRU spokespersons, and the CRU's researchers stated that the e-mails had been taken out of context and merely reflect an honest exchange of ideas. In 2011, a new analysis of temperature data by the independent Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature group, many of whom had stated publicly that they thought is was possible that the CRU had manipulated data, concluded that "these studies were done carefully and that potential biases identified by climate change sceptics did not seriously affect their conclusions."

Six committees investigated the allegations and published reports, finding no evidence of fraud or scientific misconduct. The Muir Russell report, however, stated, "We do find that there has been a consistent pattern of failing to display the proper degree of openness, both on the part of CRU scientists and on the part of the UEA." The scientific consensus that global warming is occurring as a result of human activity remained unchanged by the end of the investigations.

Freedom of Information requests to the Climatic Research Unit had sought raw data of instrumental temperature records held by National Meteorological Organisations around the world and obtained by CRU under formal or informal confidentiality agreements that restricted use of this raw data to academic purposes. CRU sought agreement with these organisations to release the data in stages. In its decision released on 23 June 2011, the Information Commissioner's Office required CRU to release the remaining raw data irrespective of the wishes of the meteorological organisations, and this was completed by 27 July 2011.