More than 85 climate scientists slammed the Energy Department's report on the impacts of greenhouse gases in the U.S., calling it "not scientifically credible." CBS News national environmental correspondent David Schechter has more details.

Washington

Eighty-five climate scientists have issued a formal response rejecting a recent US Energy Department report on greenhouse gas emissions. The scientists argue that the report is not scientifically credible, citing misquotations of international research, incorrect definitions, and a lack of peer review. 

The Energy Department's report, produced by a small group of government-selected scientists over a few weeks, claims that carbon dioxide-induced warming is less economically damaging than previously believed and questions the link between extreme weather events and climate change. Environmental groups and professional societies have also criticized the report and are taking legal and procedural actions to challenge its findings before the government finalizes its regulatory decisions.

Climate scientists slam Energy Department's report on greenhouse gases

Dozens of climate scientists are rejecting a recent report published by the U.S. Energy Department. At least 85 experts, 85, just released their response. They say the report, titled Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact on U.S. Climate, is not scientifically credible. The report claims the carbon dioxide-induced warming appears less damaging economically than it believed. It also claims that the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, floods and other extreme weather events are, quote, not supported by historical data. I want to bring in CBS News National Environmental Correspondent David Schechter to talk more about this. All right, David, break down what the climatologists are saying is wrong with the DOE report and explain why it matters. Hey, Vlad. Good morning. So, let's start with why it matters. It's because the administration is using that Department of Energy report as its basis to dismantle the government's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, which are warming our planet. In fact, the secretary of energy, a former energy industry executive, has been downplaying the threat that climate change represents to the Americans' safety and security and health. Today's new report that you just mentioned from those 85 concerned climate scientists concludes, in an effort to minimize the threats of warming the planet, our government is sidestepping the negative impacts of climate change. It's misquoting international reports. It's using incorrect definitions and oversimplifying and mixing up study results. Basically, they say the science here is quite shoddy. So, David, does the report live up to what the scientific standards of other prominent climate research say? For example, were reports from the United Nations and others? I mean, the short answer here is no. From these 85 climate scientists, major reports like the ones from the UN, those could take hundreds of scientists years to complete, and they debate every aspect of their work in public. The work is then peer-reviewed by outside experts. By contrast, the Department of Energy report, which we're all talking about now, was written by five scientists, hand-selected by the government. They wrote the report in just a few weeks. There was no public scrutiny or any outside peer review of their work. All right, so how are different groups pushing back against these types of reports from the federal government? There are, you know, environmental groups are suing the government over the Department of Energy report. The American Meteorological Society has also generated its own critical report, the challenges, the findings of the Department of Energy. These groups and other ones are trying to move as fast as they can because there's this 30-day window for public comment before the government moves forward with its decision to cease regulating greenhouse gas emissions. So there's some time pressure here to get these criticisms in. Whether they'll make a difference in the government's final reading of what they want to do is unclear at the moment. Wow. All right. David Schechter, thank you very much.

The U.S. military struck a drug-carrying boat hailing from Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, as tensions spike between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government. Charlie D'Agata has more.

Caracas

U.S. military strikes drug-carrying boat from Venezuela, Rubio says

The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday released over 33,000 pages of documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

33,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein documents released by House panel

Belgium joins the ranks of Australia, France, Canada and the UK, all who have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state at the UNGA next week in a bid to ramp up pressure on the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza.

Brussels

Middle East Conflict

Belgium to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 1,400 people, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Thousands more were  injured.

Kunar

At least 1,400 killed in powerful Afghanistan earthquake

The death toll from Afghanistan's worst earthquake in years jumped to over 1,100 with thousands more injured, as difficult terrain hindered rescue efforts in isolated villages of the country's mountainous eastern region.

Taliban appeals for aid after quake kills over 1100 in Afghanistan

The leaders of Russia, China and India showcased a renewed commitment to co-operation on the second day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Analysts says the friendliness is designed to project an unified alternative to the West.

Tianjin

Russia, China, India tout renewed co-operation

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was disrupted by jamming that authorities suspect was the result of Russian interference in Bulgaria.

Plovdiv

Von der Leyen's plane affected by alleged Russian GPS jamming

The world's leading genocide scholars' association has passed a resolution saying that the legal criteria have been met to establish Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, its president said on Monday (September 1).

Jerusalem

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, scholars' association says

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a new global security and economic order at a regional summit on Monday (September 1), as India and Russia continued to express strong ties between their nations.

China's Xi, Russia's Putin share vision for new global order

A devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing more than 800 people and injuring hundreds more, officials said. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams reports.

Kabul

Powerful earthquake in Afghanistan kills hundreds, destroys villages

Iran-backed Houthis raided offices of the United Nations’ food, health and children's agencies in Yemen’s capital, detaining several UN employees, officials said. The rebels tightened security across Sanaa following the Israeli killing of their prime minister and several Cabinet members.

Sana'a

Houthis raid UN offices in Yemen, detain 11 employees

A large buildup of U.S. naval forces in and around the Southern Caribbean has officials in Caracas and experts in the United States asking: is the move aimed at combating drug cartels, as the Trump administration has suggested, or is it for something else entirely?

U.S. builds up forces in Caribbean as officials, experts concerned

Officials from the Trump administration spent the weekend pushing back against a U.S. appeals court ruling that most tariffs against Canada were illegal. Economic adviser Peter Navarro called the decision politically motivated.

Global Tariffs

Trump officials push back after court rules tariffs illegal

Israel's security cabinet is considering a plan to seize Gaza City with attacks ramping up over the weekend. The Israeli military has now ended a temporary pause of military action around aid delivery locations ahead of an expected 'full-scale assault'.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel intensifying attacks ahead of planned seizure of Gaza City

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says he's making every effort to stop President Trump from using the military to "invade states." But the White House claims the National Guard is needed to stop violent crime in Chicago.

Chicago

Trump threatens to send military to Chicago over crime

A young boy who had wandered away from his parents ended up on a closed monorail at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania this weekend. A bystander helped rescue the boy as a gathering crowd cheered. It's not clear how he made his way onto the monorail.

Hershey

Boy rescued from monorail track at Pennsylvania amusement park

A flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, has set sail from Barcelona. On board are organisers from 44 countries, who say they're trying to break Israel's siege on the Strip.

Barcelona

Greta Thunberg onboard second aid flotilla heading for Gaza Strip

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi was committed to improving ties with China in a key meeting with President Xi Jinping, as the two leaders discussed the need to expand trade and investment ties against the backdrop of U.S. tariffs.

Beijing

Modi meets with Xi, vows to improve China ties

Pakistan's eastern Punjab province is facing one of the worst flood emergencies in recent history. Authorities say raging waters have affected the lives of more than 2 million people.

Punjab

Pakistan's Punjab province battered by historic flood

China’s Xi Jinping has welcomed Russia’s Vladimir Putin, India’s Narendra Modi and leaders from around 20 countries to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a high-security gathering aimed at boosting Beijing’s influence and promoting "a multipolar world order."

Xi aims to show global south unity with Modi and Putin

Russia's Vladimir Putin is among a dozen leaders attending the regional security summit, which comes at a crunch moment in talks over his war on Ukraine, and for a summit that's demonstrating a strong show of unity among Global South leaders.

Putin arrives in China for key regional security summit

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson detailed his plan Saturday to resist President Trump's threatened immigration crackdown in his city. CBS News has learned the Trump administration plans to intensify immigration enforcement in the city as early as next week.

Chicago mayor pushes back on Trump's immigration crackdown

Russian strikes shook the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine overnight Friday, hitting a five-story apartment building, killing at least one person and injuring dozens more.

Zaporizhzhia

Russia continues assault on Ukrainian cities

For the first time since this week's deadly mass shooting at a Minneapolis church, which killed two young students and wounded more than a dozen people, a devastated community gathered Saturday at the site to attend Mass.

Minneapolis

Mass held at site of Minneapolis church shooting

The United States says it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York next month for a United Nations gathering of world leaders, where several U.S. allies are set to recognise Palestine as a state.

New York

U.S bars Palestinian leadership from attending UN

The Department of Homeland Security is preparing for an immigration crackdown in Chicago as early as next week, sources told CBS News. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted the Trump administration's plans.

Chicago immigration crackdown could happen next week, sources say

The Israeli military on Friday declared Gaza City a “dangerous combat zone” before a new offensive in the Palestinian enclave's largest city. Israel is moving forward with plans to seize Gaza City despite growing international pressure to end the nearly two-year conflict.

Israel declares Gaza City a 'dangerous combat zone'

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been blocked from attending the UN General Assembly in New York next month. That's as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cancelled visas for the Palestinian delegation.

U.S. blocks Palestinian officials from attending UN general assembly

The death toll of a devastating Russian air assault in Kyiv earlier this week has been revised upward to 25. Now European allies suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin is playing U.S. President Donald Trump if he runs out the clock on Washington's peace efforts.

Breakdown