Congressional hearing: "Climate Change: Examining the Processes Used to Create Science and Policy," on March 31, 2011, to have real time commentary by leading climate scientists in order to correct misleading and inaccurate testimony -- available to journalists -- additionally, a teleconference follows hearing (with Kevin Trenberth, Andrew Dessler, and Gary Yohe)

Media Advisory: March 31, 2011 EventFor Release on March 29, 2011
       

House Science Hearing to Face Real Time

Rebuttal Through Web Portal

  Real Time Commentary/Live Stream: Thursday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m.

Teleconference with leading scientists: Thursday, March 31, 20 minutes after hearing

WASHINGTON– Via a dedicated page on the Project on Climate Science website, three leading scientists will provide real time commentary to any misleading scientific statements made during a Thursday, March 31, 2011, House Science Committee climate science hearing that begins at 10:30 a.m.

By using a portal provided by The Project on Climate Science, reporters will be able to both watch a live feed of the hearing and read real time rebuttals and corrections – citing sources and current research findings – in response to any inaccurate, outdated or misleading testimony.  Reporters will also be able to submit questions to the scientists during the hearing over the web portal.  Following the completion of the hearing, there will also be a teleconference with the scientists for longer questions and further discussion.

Cloaked in scientific language – with selective critiques and misrepresentations of mainstream climate science – misleading testimony on climate science has frequently been provided to Congress. By providing instant access to leading scientists, the portal will help provide reporters with a more accurate representation of the latest science.  The hearing, "Climate Change: Examining the Processes Used to Create Science and Policy," will feature testimony on climate science. 

WHAT:  A web portal featuring real-time commentary from leading scientists and live streaming video from the House Science Committee Hearing.

Teleconference with extended Q&A that begins after the hearing’s conclusion with leading climate scientists.

WHEN:  Web Portal: Thursday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m.- hearing conclusion

                 Teleconference: Thursday, March 31, 20 minutes following hearing conclusion

WHO:  

Dr. Kevin Trenberth is a climate scientist who heads the Climate Analysis Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, and was a lead author of the 1995, 2001 and 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change leading (IPCC) Scientific Assessment of Climate Change. He served from 1999 to 2006 on the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), and he chairs the WCRP Observation and Assimilation Panel and the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) scientific steering group.  His main research focus is climate dynamics and diagnostics on large multidecadal scales.

Dr. Andrew Dessler is an atmospheric scientist in the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University.  Dr. Dessler’s research focuses on climate feedbacks, particularly water vapor and clouds.  He served as senior analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which led to a book, “The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change: A Guide to the Debate,” which demonstrates how science is used and misused in the policy arena. His most recent article on cloud feedback over the past decade was published in the December 2010 issue of Science and is already an authoritative resource on the role of cloud cover in climate change.

Dr. Gary Yohe is the Huffington Foundation Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University; he has been on the faculty at Wesleyan for more than 30 years.  He is the author of more than 100 scholarly articles, several books, and many contributions to media coverage of climate issues.  Most of his work has focused attention on the mitigation and adaptation/impacts sides of the climate issue.  Since the early 1990s, Dr. Yohe has been involved with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, serving as a lead author on multiple chapters.                  

HOW:            

Web Portal: To watch the hearing and live commentary at the Project on Climate Science web portal please visit: http://theprojectonclimatescience.org/hearing/ 

A password is necessary to access the site. To receive the password, please RSVP to Abbey Watson at awatson@prismpublicaffairs.com.

Media are welcome to submit questions through the portal during the hearing. 

TELECONFERENCE : Beginning 20 minutes after the completion of the hearing, reporters are invited to join the scientists for a teleconference.  

To participate in this teleconference, please dial 1-800-434-1335. The conference code is: 679378# Please tell the operator that you are seeking the Climate Science Hearing conference call. Media who RSVP will be sent a reminder email of the exact start time of the teleconference.

Note: This call is for media only. 

RSVP: To participate in the teleconference and to have access to the web portal, please

RSVP to Abbey Watson at awatson@prismpublicaffairs.com 

For further information, please contact Abbey Watson at awatson@prismpublicaffairs.com,  202-207-3660 or Richard Ades at rades@prismpublicaffairs.com, 202-207-3665.