Despite this scientific consensus on climate change , allegations have been made that scientists and institutions involved in global warming research are part of a global scientific conspiracy or engaged in a manipulative hoax . There have been allegations of malpractice , most notably in the Climatic Research Unit email controversy ( " ClimateGate " ) . Eight committees investigated these allegations and published reports , each finding no evidence of fraud or scientific misconduct . The Muir Russell report stated that the scientists ' " rigor and honesty as scientists are not in doubt , " that the investigators " did not find any evidence of behavior that might undermine the conclusions of the IPCC assessments , " but that there had been " a consistent pattern of failing to display the proper degree of openness . " The scientific consensus that global warming is occurring as a result of human activity remained unchanged at the end of the investigations
Climatic Research Unit email controversy
Climatic Research Unit email controversy
Global warming conspiracy theory