U.N. Probes Dicey Climate Data

Just days before the climate-change talks commence in Copenhagen, the head of a United Nations panel announced its investigation of claims that scientists manipulated global-warming data on Friday. The controversy centers around thousands of emails released from scientists at the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit, in which some have seen allusions to efforts to suppress or manipulate findings. The head of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change told the BBC that the allegations were serious. Those skeptical of climate-change reports, like some congressional Republicans, have taken the opportunity to accuse researchers of exaggerating global warming. Some Republicans have claimed that President Obama’s efforts in regard to climate change should be revisited in light of the emails. The University of East Anglia announced its own review of the email-related allegations on Thursday. The head of the institution’s unit has stepped aside barring the outcome of the investigation.