“This scandal clearly shows how closely intertwined climate research, politics, and the financial industry have become—and how policy is being made using questionable methods. In its study, PIK published dramatic climate forecasts claiming that climate change would shrink the world economy by 19 percent by 2050 and cause annual costs of 38 trillion dollars.
But serious scientific objections soon followed: peer reviewers, economists, and researchers accused the study of poor methodology, grave statistical errors, and a lack of scientific foundations. Critics also accused Nature of publishing the paper despite clear warnings and of long delaying the subsequent criticism.
When papers that have been heavily challenged even by expert reviewers nevertheless flow into EU policy and guidelines for central banks, that has nothing to do with sound science. Instead, it is about politically intended deindustrialization, the steering of financial flows worth billions, and the restriction of economic freedom. In the end, people in Europe pay the price: through rising costs, job losses, and declining prosperity.
We in AfD and ESN demand full transparency, an end to these climate-cronyism networks, and a return to solid, honest research—free from lobbying interests.”
AfD/ESN announces that it will place the matter on the agenda of the European Parliament and submit parliamentary questions regarding the entanglements between climate researchers, the European Central Bank, and international financial actors.
