What has been dubbed as "Climate-Gate" was first sparked when an unknown assailant, or assailants, hacked the servers of the Climate Research Unit and disseminated material from reputable climatological sources stating that the evidence of anthropogenic global warming is either inconclusive, exaggerated, or completely fabricated.
What makes this especially controversial is the fact that the world is now so invested and sold on the notion that humans are causing global warming that world policies like the Kyoto Protocol are founded upon them. Entire political parties are wrapped up in the notion and have profited off the pitch.
Even on commercials ranging from laundry detergent to gasoline, the "go green" mantra is now completely ingrained in the psyche of all Westerners. We have heard that "the science is in, the debate is over," yet large scientific dissent has been raised for decades now, which is only stifled by the allegation that only "fringe" scientists are skeptical of global warming. Some have even called it the greatest scientific hoax of all time. If proven conclusively true, it will certainly be one of the most historic scandals of the 21st century.
Those in favor of anthropogenic global warming are saying that the material in question is completely taken out of context and is nothing more than a clever smear campaign.
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." --John Adams