I worked on the EPA’s climate change website. Its removal is a declaration of war.

Washington Post ^ | June 23, 2017 | By Jason Samenow

[Oldeconomybuyer]

This spring, political officials at the Environmental Protection Agency removed the agency’s climate change website, one of the world’s top resources for information on the science and effects of climate change.

To me, a scientist who managed this website for more than five years, its removal signifies a declaration of war on climate science by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. There can be no other interpretation. I draw this conclusion as a meteorologist with a specialization in climate science and as an independent voter who strives to keep my political and scientific views separate. I concede that this specific issue is personal for me, given the countless hours I spent working on the site. But it should be obvious to anyone how this senseless action runs counter to principles of good governance and scientific integrity.

The site’s overarching conclusion, informed by these scientific organizations and reports, was that recent warming is largely a result of human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Pruitt’s order to delete the site feels purely spiteful, as if he simply couldn’t abide knowing that the agency he leads was publishing information he doesn’t believe. But science is not about belief — it’s about evidence. And of all people, the head of the EPA should have the utmost respect for this evidence and its transparent communication. Pruitt’s choice to destroy carefully vetted scientific information rather than preserve it is a reckless and dangerous abdication of his responsibility.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Jason is the Washington Post’s weather editor and Capital Weather Gang's chief meteorologist. He earned a master's degree in atmospheric science, and spent 10 years as a climate change science analyst for the U.S. government. He holds the Digital Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association.

[DoughtyOne]

All that education.

All those accolades.

No commons sense.

[2ndDivisionVet]

A masters degree yet he’s never read the constitution?

[MeganC]

Seems to me that Jason Samenow is trying to incite someone to kill Scott Pruitt with this “declaration of war”.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

You got paid for going to work every day, didn’t you, you little sucking twit?

We owe you something else?

[BenLurkin]

And he keeps his politics out of his “science”.

He says.

[Red Badger]

Too bad he didn’t get a degree in something useful............

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

I bet he’ll start a petition! Because he’s series about this fight!

[Magnum44]

[Psalm 73]

"...its removal signifies a declaration of war on climate science..."

No, its removal signifies a declaration of war on climate "science" - there, that's bettr.

[Grimmy]

That idiot douchebag better hope to h**l that it isn’t an actual declaration of war.

Our side tends to be a heck of a lot less metaphorical about such things.

[mrsmel]

Oh, he spent a lot of time on this so it’s just awful that it was destroyed. His achievement isn’t remotely comparable, but maybe he has an inkling of how it feels, now.

[mrsmel]

Excellent point.

[Uncle Sam 911]

Sorry Jason, you are a few months late. The lunatic left declared war on Trump on November 9, 2016.

[jeffc]

...signifies a declaration of war on climate science...

I feel this way, too!! And I'm glad of it!

[ifinnegan]

“To me, a scientist who managed this website for more than five years...”

No one stopping this whiner from running his own web site.

[BenLurkin]

Yup

[bigbob]

He needs to put on his War Jammies, pour a double-strenght cuppa cocoa, and hold his breath on Periscope til he turns blue.

[Snickering Hound]

[Major Matt Mason]

Everything is a declaration of war to these a-holes. The Left is truly becoming unhinged, as if the shooting last week isn't proof enough.