Climatic Research Unit building, University of East Anglia

Climate Science Watch supports the call for an independent investigation into the stolen climate scientist e-mails at the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit. As Joe Romm at Climate Progress wrote on July 19: “In the light of the News Corp phone-hacking scandal, it is clear that Murdoch’s outfit had means, motive, and opportunity for the Climategate email hacking. News Corp certainly has a history of defaming climate scientists and a penchant for hacking.”

Joe Romm, editor of Climate Progress, wrote on July 19 (“”):

There have been countless independent investigations into the scientists whose e-mails were hacked in November 2009. And the scientists have been (quietly) vindicated every time (see “The first rule of vindicating climate science is you do not talk about vindicating climate science“).

But we still don’t know who hacked the emails! And now we know that one of the key investigative bodies tasked with tracking down the hackers — Scotland Yard – were compromised at the time.

How were they compromised? Neil Wallis — the former News of the World executive editor — became a “£1,000 a day” consultant to Scotland Yard in October 2009. Last week he became the ninth person arrested in the metastasizing News Corp scandal “on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977.” …

In the light of the News Corp phone-hacking scandal, it is clear that Murdoch’s outfit had means, motive, and opportunity for the Climategate email hacking. News Corp certainly has a history of defaming climate scientists and a penchant for hacking. …

At the same time, we now know things were so cozy between News Corp, Wallis, and Scotland Yard that it is hard to believe News Corp would have been thoroughly investigated for Climategate, if they were investigated at all. …

In any case, it is time for an independent investigation into the Climategate email hacking. We now know that for four years, Scotland Yard sat on evidence suggesting the phones of “nearly 4,000 celebrities, politicians, sports stars, police officials and crime victims” had been hacked.

So the Climategate investigation should not involve Scotland Yard, and should investigate whether News Corp had any involvement. It could start by investigating whether News Corp hacked the phone of any climate scientists.

A few of many earlier posts on the stolen e-mails:

A review of the climate science stolen email controversy, with a few lessons for the future

Inspector General’s review of stolen emails confirms no evidence of wrong-doing by NOAA climate scientists

Interview with Michael Mann on the Penn State Final Report and the war on climate scientists

Ben Santer: Open letter to the climate science community