A leading climate scientist is pushing back against what he describes as "demonstrably incorrect" claims in a major US government climate report, arguing that it misrepresented his research and understated the role of human activity in global warming.
Prof Benjamin Santer, an Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia (UEA), was one of the first researchers to identify a distinct human "fingerprint" in Earth's climate system. His work helped shape the landmark 1995 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which concluded for the first time that there was enough evidence to support a "discernible human influence" on the global climate.
In July 2025, however, a report issued by the US Department of Energy (DOE) cited Santer's research while arguing the opposite conclusion. The report was released the same day the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed overturning the 2009 'endangerment finding' -- the ruling that gives the agency legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other industrial sources.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration moved forward with revoking the finding. The decision raised concerns about potential effects on public health and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Critics also warned it could weaken other environmental protections in the United States.
