Scientists Revolt in Perry Climate Change Clash

Authors of Texas report want their names deleted
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 15, 2011 3:11 PM CDT
Rick Perry Officials in Texas Spark Climate Change Battle by Altering Environmental Report
Texas officials appointed by Rick Perry have sparked a climate change battle after removing information from an environmental report.   (Getty Images)

Officials appointed by Rick Perry have sparked a new firestorm in Texas over climate change science, the Guardian reports. Every scientist behind a recent 200-page environmental report is demanding to have his name stricken from the document after state officials deleted references to climate change. "This is simply antithetical to what a scientist does," says one. "We can't be censored."

The authors even avoided mentioning the human causes behind climate change, knowing that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality chief dismisses global warming science. Yet officials still deleted references to sea-level rise, wetlands destruction, and climate change. The agency defended the changes, which happen to be consistent with Perry's rhetoric on the campaign trail. "Information was included in a report that we disagree with," says a spokeswoman. Mother Jones has tracked the changes in the document. (Click through to see President Obama's dig against Perry's stance on climate change.)

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