Climate Litigation Entangles Science and Disclosure
Liberty Check
Questions of fairness emerge when science is intertwined with legal activism and undisclosed interests.
A recent scientific paper co-authored by Dr. Michael Mann declares that the “climate crisis” is fueling global instability, but its funding sources raise issues of transparency.
- The article was partially funded by Roger Worthington, an attorney representing plaintiffs in a major Oregon climate lawsuit, yet there was no clear disclosure of his role as legal counsel.
- Chevron has argued in court that studies used as evidence had undisclosed involvement from Worthington and other funding sources, suggesting a pattern of selective disclosure meant to influence litigation.
- The court rebuked plaintiffs for lack of transparency, while motions claimed omission of potential conflicts of interest and external funding in both research submissions and public commentary.
America’s justice system depends on honest, open disclosure—especially when scientific claims are used to justify billion-dollar lawsuits. When advocacy and research blur together, constitutional principles and the public trust hang in the balance.
Our freedoms depend on staying vigilant.
