The National Academies of Sciences (NAS) is facing pressure to remove a chapter on climate change from the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, a key resource designed in partnership with the Federal Judicial Center to aid judges in understanding scientific topics that are increasingly relevant in legal cases. This chapter, the first of its kind for the manual, provides crucial insights into climate change, aiming to equip judges for cases involving federal environmental regulations and allegations against fossil fuel companies for neglecting warnings about their products’ environmental impact.
Recently, a coalition of attorneys general from Republican-dominated states successfully pressured the Federal Judicial Center to release a version of the manual with the chapter omitted. The group has now turned its attention to NAS, urging them to remove the same content. The attorneys general argue that including the chapter constitutes “one-sided advocacy” and detracts from the impartiality expected of the Academies. Their opposition is grounded in claims from various sources, including a Wall Street Journal editorial, reflecting their stance that such material may lead to “judicial indoctrination” and portray the NAS as a partisan entity.
Despite this pressure, NAS has maintained its stance not to delete the controversial chapter from their publication library. This decision is significant, especially given the increasing number of court cases where scientific knowledge is pivotal. By retaining the chapter, NAS underscores the importance of a well-rounded judicial understanding of climate science. This approach aligns with their mission to serve as an objective source of scientific expertise, free from political influence.
This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between scientific evidence and political pressures, a dynamic that is ever more critical as climate-related cases rise in prominence within the legal system. For NAS, standing firm in their decision reinforces the organization’s role as an independent bastion of scientific information, tackling accusations of bias from political figures who might prefer to see such information sidelined.
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