Overview

• An international group of more than 85 experts submitted a 400-plus-page critique by the Sept. 2 deadline, alleging pervasive errors, selective citation, and faulty analysis in the Department of Energy’s July climate assessment.
• The DOE report was produced in roughly four months by five authors personally chosen by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, several known for contrarian positions, and it did not receive standard external peer review.
• The DOE document concludes CO2-driven warming is less economically damaging than commonly found and warns aggressive mitigation could be harmful, claims the reviewers say misrepresent evidence on temperatures, extreme events, sea level, and agriculture.
• The EPA’s proposal to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding cites the DOE report; DOE has received more than 2,000 comments on its assessment, and the EPA rulemaking docket is open through Sept. 22 with nearly 80,000 comments so far.
• Major scientific groups, including the American Meteorological Society, flagged foundational flaws, while lawsuits challenge the DOE working group’s formation and transparency; DOE says it will review substantive comments.