In November of 2009, a file containing e-mails, commented computer programming code and other documents appeared on a Russian server. The source of the documents was quickly confirmed to be the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich. The release of the information has been characterized by the organization as a theft, and local authorities are pursuing a criminal investigation.
The incident precipitated a number of actions—criminal investigations into the acquisition of the data itself, and arising from reactions to the incident, media and pundit reactions to the content of the documents, investigations into allegations contained in the documents, and reactions from various scientific and political organizations commenting the extent to which these documents did or did not change prior views about climate change science or the processes of reaching scientific consensus.
The incident itself, and subsequent reactions is covered in detail in Climatic Research Unit e-mail hacking incident. This article summarizes the time line of relevant events, attempting to put in chronological perspective the main point of some of the notable documents and related incidents or non incidents, as well as the timing of major climate change events.
| Date | CRU incident | Reactions | Other Relevant events |
| 1990 | IPCC First Assessment report[1] | ||
| 1995 | IPCC Second Assessment report[1] | ||
| Nov-1999 | Mike's Nature Trick email [2] | WMO Statement On The Status Of The Global Climate In 1999[3] | |
| Jun-05 | IPCC Third Assessment report[1] | ||
| 11-Mar-2003 | Mann email "...stop considering Climate Research as a legitimate peer-reviewed journal…" | ||
| 31-Jan-2003 | Soon & Baliunas paper published in Climate Research[4][5] | ||
| 28-Jul-2003 | Hans von Storch and others resign from Climate Research editorial board [5] | ||
| 8-Jul-2004 | Jones email " keep them out [of IPCC]"[6] |
Refernced papers are cited in IPCC Fourth Assessment report[6] | |
| 2007 | IPCC Fourth Assessment report[1] | ||
| 12-Oct-09 | Trenberth e-mail "we can't account for the lack of warming at the moment"[7] | ||
| ≈ 16-Nov-09 | Hack into CRU servers occurs | ||
| 17-Nov-2009 | Documents uploaded to Real Climate site | ||
| 19-Nov-2009 | Documents uploaded to Russian Server | ||
| 23-Nov-2009 | Met Office indicates no need for an inquiry[8] | ||
| 30-Nov-2009 | Penn State announces investigation[9] | ||
| 1-Dec-2009 | CRU director Phil Jones steps aside pending investigation[10] | ||
| Met Office announces plans to re-examine temperature records | |||
| 4-Dec-2009 | IPCC response[11][12] and clarification[13] | ||
| 6-Dec-2009 | Norfolk Constabulary investigation confirmed | ||
| 7–18 Dec-2009 | 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference | ||
| 8-Dec-2009 | Death threats reported |
Notes
edit- ^ a b c d "IPCC". IPCC. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
- ^ "Climate sceptics claim leaked emails are evidence of collusion among scientists". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ "WMO statement on the status of global climate in 1999" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ Soon, Willie and Sallie (31 Jan 2003). "Proxy climatic and environmental changes of the past 1000 years" (PDF). Climate Research. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Climate Research: an article unleashed worldwide storms
- ^ a b Gibson, Eloise (2009-11-28). "A climate scandal, or is it just hot air?". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ Revkin, Andrew C. (20 November 2009). "Hacked E-Mail Is New Fodder for Climate Dispute". The New York Times.
- ^ Hickman, Leo, "Climate change champion and sceptic both call for inquiry into leaked emails", November 23, 2009, The Guardian. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
- ^ Nichols, Laura (30 Nov 2009). "PSU investigates 'Climategate'". Daily Collegian. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ^ "CRU Update 1 December". University of East Anglia – Communications Office. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-12-05. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ "UN body wants probe of climate e-mail row". BBC. 2009-12-04. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
Dr Pachauri told BBC Radio 4's The Report programme that the claims were serious and he wants them investigated.
- ^ "Statement by Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on stolen emails from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom" (PDF). IPCC. 2009-12-04. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ Wilkinson, Marian (2009-12-10). "No cover-up inquiry, climate chief". The Age. Retrieved 2009-12-09.