the climatic research unit email controversy Communication ( also known as `` climategate '' ) began Process_start in november 2009 with the hacking Committing_crime of a server at the climatic research Research unit ( cru ) at the university of east anglia ( uea ) by an external attacker , copying Writing thousands of emails and computer files , the climatic research Research unit documents , to various internet locations several weeks before the copenhagen summit Social_event on climate change Change .

They argued Protest that the emails showed that global warming Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale was a scientific conspiracy Committing_crime and that scientists manipulated Hold climate data and attempted to suppress Hindering critics .

The CRU rejected Agree_or_refuse_to_act this , saying Statement that the emails had been taken out Removing of context and merely reflected Change_sentiment an honest exchange Exchange of ideas .

Because of the timing , scientists , policy makers and public-relations experts said Statement that the release Publishing of emails was a smear campaign Social_event intended to undermine Destroying the climate conference .

Protest organizers said Communication roughly 96,000 calls were placed Placing to members of Congress and 555,000 `` pro-privacy emails '' were sent Sending via the website .