DOE receives comments from ATRA on Climate Working Group's draft report
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organisation founded in 1986, has expressed concerns about the potential inclusion of junk science evidence in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) latest climate report.
In comments submitted to the DOE, ATRA, which acts as a nationwide network of state-based liability reform coalitions backed by 154,000 grassroots supporters, urged the department to ensure they are citing objective research rather than 'science' developed to support the litigation goals of political, profit-motivated contingency-fee lawyers.
ATRA President, Tiger Joyce, stated that creating junk science is an often-utilised tool in the trial lawyer playbook. He emphasised that while global climate change is a concern for us all, any policy setting must follow sound science – not a predisposed litigation goal.
The comments outline the processes that have allowed junk science evidence in climate litigation. ATRA noted that some studies may not be entirely reliable due to the plaintiff bar's role in manufacturing research aligned with their litigation goals.
The concerns expressed by ATRA are not new. They express apprehension about the potential inclusion of junk science evidence in the DOE's latest climate report, which could now be included as evidence in additional reports, according to ATRA's comments.
In the report 'A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate', published in 2021 by the Climate Working Group at the U.S. Department of Energy, various experts and stakeholders submitted comments. ATRA's comments express concerns about the reliability of some studies related to the report.
ATRA is dedicated exclusively to reforming the civil justice system through education and legislative enactment. Their efforts have resulted in the enactment of state and federal laws that make the system fairer for everyone.
In their comments, ATRA respectfully suggests that in finalising this report, DOE officials review the scientific integrity of any cited studies. Joyce added that any policy decisions should be based on sound science, not on junk science that could potentially mislead the public and policymakers.
As the DOE continues to work on the final report, the concerns raised by ATRA serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining scientific integrity in climate research and policy-making.
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