Documents obtained by the government watchdog group Democracy Restored indicate that, under former President Joe Biden, officials working on a climate change study were expected to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) when assembling their teams in 2023.
Internal documents reviewed reveal that the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA 5) communicated to staff on November 7, 2023, the belief that “social science is science” and emphasized the importance of forming diverse teams to incorporate various disciplines, including “indigenous knowledge” and “science communication.” Furthermore, it stated that staff should value diverse life experiences alongside gender diversity.
The NCA 5, which evaluates climate change, was publicly released on November 14 under Biden’s administration. It has been part of regular updates since 2000 by the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP).
The USGCRP’s website noted that during the Trump administration, there were attempts to reduce federal climate resources. An internal “hard Q&A” document, which was reviewed, provides insight into departmental practices over recent years.
Houston Keene, director of Democracy Restoration, criticized the approach, stating that using pseudoscience to promote a specific narrative undermines scientific rigor. He claimed that while the NCA already had issues, the revelations about its emphasis on DEI reflect deeper problems. He argued that true science should not be constrained by political agendas that can harm the public, suggesting that the NCA should be completely disregarded.
A separate internal document indicated that all contents were embargoed until the NCA5 was published, specifying that it was for advisory purposes within agencies.
Democracy Restored previously reported on the role of the consulting firm ICF in developing parts of the fourth NCA, pointing out that former officials highlighted ICF’s significance in interpreting climate data, which was seen as a cautionary tale about climate change.
There was no response from ICF, and attempts to reach the USGCRP were unsuccessful.
One question in the internal Q&A referenced whether the report was merely another pessimistic take on climate change. The response stated that while the assessment outlines serious risks, there remains hope within its findings.
Additionally, there was a question about the report’s focus on fairness and justice, asking if this detracted from its scientific validity. The response emphasized that understanding social systems is crucial for climate science and developing effective solutions.
Democracy Restored remarked that NCA authors defend incorporating what they described as discriminatory ideology into a significant taxpayer-funded report, asserting that “social science is science” and contributes to valuable climate research.
