In late July 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a draft report titled A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate. Produced by the 2025 Climate Working Group—a panel of five independent scientists—the review examines how greenhouse gases (GHGs) affect U.S. climate patterns, extreme weather, ecosystems, and the economy.
The draft is not a policy document, but rather an open evaluation of the evidence, intended to invite public comment before September 2, 2025.
The Authors
The DOE selected experts from diverse scientific and policy backgrounds:
John R. Christy – Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville; Alabama’s State Climatologist; co-developer of the first satellite-based global temperature dataset.
Judith A. Curry – Professor Emerita and former Chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech; founder of the Climate Forecast Applications Network (CFAN).
Steven E. Koonin – Theoretical physicist, former DOE Under Secretary for Science (2009–2011), and founding Director of NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress.
Ross McKitrick – Professor of Economics at the University of Guelph, specializing in environmental and climate policy; Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute.
Roy W. Spencer – Meteorologist and Principal Research Scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville; formerly NASA’s Science Team Lead for the AMSR-E instrument.
Purpose of the Review
The DOE describes this initiative as an independent, science-based evaluation designed to:
Assess what’s known—and still uncertain—about GHG impacts on the U.S. climate.
Examine both the benefits and drawbacks of rising CO₂ levels.
Analyze extreme weather trends using long-term historical data.
Evaluate the economic and policy implications of potential climate mitigation strategies.
Key Findings
Scientific Certainty & GHG Impacts
The authors confirm that GHGs, including CO₂, contribute to warming, but question the reliability of climate model projections at regional and decadal scales.
Positive & Negative Effects of CO₂
Elevated CO₂ can stimulate plant growth (“global greening”), but also contributes to ocean acidification, which may disrupt marine ecosystems.
Extreme Weather Trends
Historical U.S. records, the report says, do not show clear increases in severe weather frequency or intensity. Natural variability remains a dominant factor.
Economic & Policy Considerations
The report suggests that the economic risks of projected warming may be overstated, and that U.S. emissions reductions may have limited measurable global impact in the near term.
How to Participate
The DOE is accepting public feedback until September 2, 2025.
You can review the complete draft and submit comments here:
👉 Submit Your Public Comment
All responses will be reviewed before the report is finalized.
Why It Matters for Oro Valley
While this is a national review, its conclusions could shape federal policies that influence energy investment, infrastructure planning, and climate resilience strategies—issues that affect communities like Oro Valley. Public participation offers a direct way to help ensure that local perspectives are considered in the final report.
Bottom Line:
The DOE’s draft review encourages open debate and scrutiny of climate science and economics. Whether you agree with its conclusions or challenge them, the comment period is a key opportunity for residents, researchers, and policymakers to contribute to the national conversation.
Publisher’s Note
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