JGC, since you have followed the debate so closely, I am sure that you know that Steve McIntyre does not challenge the assertion that global warming is man made. Rather, the primary focus of his work at Climate Audit and in publication is to challenge the extreme view of some paleoclimatologists that the modern era is warmer than any other time period in recent history. This plank of the alarmist platform is important in making the case that we must take expensive and immediate actions to mitigate carbon emissions.

The climategate emails prove what Steve has long alleged, that his work and the work of others has been hindered at every turn by climate scientists denying them access to data and access to publication venues. This weakens the case that current years are the hottest in recent history, since alternative views were systematically and unfairly discredited through scientific politics, and not science.

So, yes, I think it matters.

In the long run, Climategate may be very beneficial to environmental science. It will shame those who seek to inject political bias into scientific discussions and encourage more open work practices. This is a good thing! Skeptical observers will be more likely to be convinced by a process that appears dispassionate.

I am not sure what the point is of all these investigation panels, but they seem flawed.