Inside the anti-climate campaign against researchers

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A POLITICO investigation has identified more than 100 public-records requests targeting climate researchers at U.S. public universities
• The requests seek materials including emails, research drafts and correspondence, and have targeted at least 30 researchers across 19 universities over the past five years

🔭 The context: Researchers and their allies say the campaign is intended to challenge climate science that could be used in lawsuits against fossil-fuel companies
• POLITICO reports that more than half of the identified requests were filed after Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection, as his administration has also moved to oppose climate-related litigation against energy companies

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Climate research is increasingly relevant to litigation over the causes and costs of extreme weather and climate change
• Pressure on researchers and access to their work could affect how scientific evidence is communicated and scrutinised in public policy and legal proceedings

⏭️ What’s next: The investigation suggests the use of open-records laws against climate researchers is continuing, while climate-related lawsuits and efforts to challenge them remain active
• The scope of future requests and their effect on universities and researchers will depend on ongoing legal and political developments

💬 One quote: Targets and their allies describe the requests as “an effort to undermine the role climate research is playing in litigation against U.S. fossil fuel companies,” according to POLITICO

📈 One stat: 100+ requests — filed at 19 public universities and targeting at least 30 researchers over the past five years, according to POLITICO

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