Running Out the Clock

A report released yesterday by the White House summarizes evidence of global climate disruption, the harmful impacts it is already having on society and the environment, and future projections of potential damages. The report, years overdue under a requirement of law, was produced only in response to an August 2007 federal court order that an assessment be produced by May 31, 2008.

The report is an about-face by the Bush administration on their official statements on climate change, for pretty much the entire time he’s been in office. And they didn’t want this getting out now - they were legally forced to release the information.

Said Rick Piltz, Director of the Government Accountability Project’s Climate Science Watch program: “After seven years of denial, disinformation, cover-up, and delay, in its waning months, the Bush administration is finally beginning to allow the publication of reports that acknowledge this scientific reality.” From the Associated Press:

Environmental groups got a court order last summer to force the Bush administration to produce the document by the end of this month. Hays said the White House has preferred issuing studies on individual global warming issues, such as an agricultural effects report that was released on Tuesday.

"It's totally begrudging," said Rick Piltz, director of Climate Science Watch at the nonprofit Government Accountability Project, a whistleblowers' organization. "It's important the government go on record honestly acknowledging this stuff."

ABCNews.com also has a good piece on the story, and an even better video segment. To view that, click on the link and search for “Climate,” and it should be in the first few videos today.

-- Dylan Blaylock