Hundreds of emails related to global warming were hacked from the Climate Research Unit at East Anglia University in the United Kingdom recently and they're causing a firestorm for those interested in the topic of climate change.
Global warming deniers claim the documents suggest that scientists are pushing an "agenda" that humans are responsible for global warming.
In the hundreds of emails that were stolen and have been taken out of context, there isn't actual evidence of such a plot.
The hacked emails involve both American and European researchers, and according to the New York Times they include "discussions of scientific data and whether it should be released, exchanges about how best to combat the arguments of skeptics, and casual comments -- in some cases derisive -- about specific people known for their skeptical views."
The emails also suggest "bitter feelings" involved in the debate between those on both sides of the issue of global warming and the seriousness of the threat.
One reputable group of scientists, Real Climate, has posted a response on its blog to the allegations about what information is actually contained in the hacked emails:
More interesting is what is not contained in the emails. There is no evidence of any worldwide conspiracy, no mention of George Soros nefariously funding climate research, no grand plan to 'get rid of the MWP', no admission that global warming is a hoax, no evidence of the falsifying of data, and no 'marching orders' from our socialist/communist/vegetarian overlords. The truly paranoid will put this down to the hackers also being in on the plot though.
Despite the lack of evidence of some sort of conspiracy in the scientific community, this criminal activity has created fodder for right-wing groups and websites to promote their own agenda that global warming is not real. This comes at a time when international attention is more and more focused on the climate crisis in advance of the UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December.