Rick S. Piltz
Encyclopedia
Rick Piltz is a former senior associate in the U.S. Climate Change Science Program
. In March 2005, he resigned over political interference in the program's climate change reports. In June 2005, the New York Times exposed the role of Philip Cooney
in editing government documents on climate change
to create scientific uncertainty. A former lobbyist with the American Petroleum Institute
, Cooney resigned and days later took a job at Exxon Mobil.
Piltz went on to found Climate Science Watch, a project to hold public officials accountable for using climate science with integrity in policy making. Climate Science Watch is a program of the Government Accountability Project
, a whistleblower
protection agency in Washington, D.C.
is misused by the government and special interest groups. From 1995, he served in senior positions in the Climate Change Science Program, before resigning in March 2005. In his resignation letter, he wrote, "I believe the overarching problem is that the [Bush] Administration...does not want and has acted to impede forthright communication of the state of climate science and its implication for society."
Within months, the New York Times exposed White House operative Philip Cooney
for editing government climate documents to increase uncertainty
about the science. Cooney resigned and joined Exxon Mobil.
Piltz also states that forces within the Bush Administration have sought to hide the results from the National Assessment on Climate Change
.
from government insider
s.
Piltz has testified twice before Congress
since creating Climate Science Watch.http://oversight.house.gov/Documents/20070130113813-92288.pdfhttp://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/piltz-senate-testimony/
, Frontline, The Guardian
, PBS
, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, and the science journal Environmental Science & Technology
. He is also a central character in the award winning documentary Everything's Cool
.
in 2006 for his work to prevent the politicization of climate science reporting in the federal government. The prize is awarded to a citizen, corporate, or government whistleblower, investigative journalist, or organization for bringing a specific issue of social importance to the public's attention.
Climate Change Science Program
The Climate Change Science Program was the program responsible for coordinating and integrating research on global warming by U.S. government agencies from February 2002 to June 2009...
. In March 2005, he resigned over political interference in the program's climate change reports. In June 2005, the New York Times exposed the role of Philip Cooney
Philip Cooney
Philip A. Cooney is a former member of the administration of United States President George W. Bush. Before serving in the federal government, he was a lawyer and lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute.-Personal:...
in editing government documents on climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
to create scientific uncertainty. A former lobbyist with the American Petroleum Institute
American Petroleum Institute
The American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the largest U.S trade association for the oil and natural gas industry...
, Cooney resigned and days later took a job at Exxon Mobil.
Piltz went on to found Climate Science Watch, a project to hold public officials accountable for using climate science with integrity in policy making. Climate Science Watch is a program of the Government Accountability Project
Government Accountability Project
The Government Accountability Project is a leading United States whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating of whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, GAP’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability...
, a whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
protection agency in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Politicization of science
Piltz spent 14 years in various positions in Washington closely following how global warming scienceScientific opinion on climate change
The predominant scientific opinion on climate change is that the Earth is in an ongoing phase of global warming primarily caused by an enhanced greenhouse effect due to the anthropogenic release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases...
is misused by the government and special interest groups. From 1995, he served in senior positions in the Climate Change Science Program, before resigning in March 2005. In his resignation letter, he wrote, "I believe the overarching problem is that the [Bush] Administration...does not want and has acted to impede forthright communication of the state of climate science and its implication for society."
Within months, the New York Times exposed White House operative Philip Cooney
Philip Cooney
Philip A. Cooney is a former member of the administration of United States President George W. Bush. Before serving in the federal government, he was a lawyer and lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute.-Personal:...
for editing government climate documents to increase uncertainty
Uncertainty
Uncertainty is a term used in subtly different ways in a number of fields, including physics, philosophy, statistics, economics, finance, insurance, psychology, sociology, engineering, and information science...
about the science. Cooney resigned and joined Exxon Mobil.
Piltz also states that forces within the Bush Administration have sought to hide the results from the National Assessment on Climate Change
National Assessment on Climate Change
The National Climate Assessment is a large-scale national project that is conducted under the auspices of the Global Change Research Act of 1990, and is one of the many activities of the US Global Change Research Program , a program which coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in...
.
Government watchdog
Rick Piltz founded Climate Science Watch in the summer of 2005. http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/ The group tracks and investigates climate science policy developments in the news and occasionally publishes leaked documentsNews leak
A news leak is a disclosure of embargoed information in advance of its official release, or the unsanctioned release of confidential information.-Types of news leaks:...
from government insider
Insider
An insider is a member of any group of people of limited number and generally restricted access. The term is used in the context of secret, privileged, hidden or otherwise esoteric information or knowledge: an insider is a "member of the gang" and as such knows things only people in the gang...
s.
Piltz has testified twice before Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
since creating Climate Science Watch.http://oversight.house.gov/Documents/20070130113813-92288.pdfhttp://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/piltz-senate-testimony/
Media appearances
Since going public with the White House's attempts to undermine the science on climate change. Piltz has been interviewed by a number of media venues including 60 Minutes60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, Frontline, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, and the science journal Environmental Science & Technology
Environmental Science & Technology
Environmental Science & Technology , is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, published since 1967 by the American Chemical Society. As the name indicates, it publishes original research in environmental science, but also comprehensive, critical reviews. Publication is currently every other week...
. He is also a central character in the award winning documentary Everything's Cool
Everything's Cool (film)
Everything's Cool is a 2007 documentary film that examines the divide between scientists and the general populace on the topic of global warming...
.
- "Frontline: Hot Politics", January 2007 interview with Rick Piltz about White House interference with government climate change programs.
- "Out of Balance: ExxonMobil's Impact on Climate Change"
- "Everything's Cool: A Hot Documentary"
- "The Denial Machine", November 2006, Piltz speaks with the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
about industry's strategy to manufacture uncertainty. - "Rewriting the Science" 60 Minutes, July 30, 2006.
- "Blowing the Whistle on Climate Change: Interview with Rick Piltz" Environmental Science & Technology, June 22, 2005.
Awards
Piltz was awarded the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-TellingThe Ridenhour Prizes
The Ridenhour Prizes comprise awards in three categories given annually in recognition of those "who persevere in acts of truth-telling that protect the public interest, promote social justice or illuminate a more just vision of society." The awards are presented by The Nation Institute and The...
in 2006 for his work to prevent the politicization of climate science reporting in the federal government. The prize is awarded to a citizen, corporate, or government whistleblower, investigative journalist, or organization for bringing a specific issue of social importance to the public's attention.
External links
- "Bush Aide Softened Greenhouse Gas Links to Global Warming" New York Times, June 8, 2005.
- "Editor of Climate Reports Resigns" New York Times, June 10, 2005.
- Climate Science Watch: a government watchdog.
- Piltz testimony before House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform January, 2007.
- Declaration filed by Piltz in support of lawsuit to compel the Bush Administration to perform a national climate change impact assessment.
- "Ridenhour Prize for Truth Telling"