A recent study linking the Los Angeles wildfires to human-induced climate change has ignited controversy. The World Weather Attribution (WWA), a group funded by prominent figures like Jeff Bezos and George Soros, released a "rapid attribution" study asserting this connection, which subsequently gained traction in major media outlets. However, critics are questioning the WWA's methodology and conclusions.

Critics like Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, dismiss the WWA's findings as alarmist and manipulative. He points to the lack of peer review and questions the study's validity, citing historical wildfire occurrences. Isaac argues that California's "poor management" and restrictions on land clearing practices bear significant responsibility for the fires' severity. He also criticizes the state's allocation of substantial funds to climate initiatives while fire prevention receives comparatively less funding.

Steve Milloy, a former Trump EPA Transition Team member, echoes Isaac's concerns, labeling the WWA's study "pal-reviewed" and lacking scientific rigor. He contends that the attribution science itself is flawed and serves primarily as propaganda. Both Milloy and Isaac anticipate a resurgence in climate change-driven initiatives following President Trump's recent executive order revoking Biden-era climate commitments.

The WWA defends its rapid attribution studies as necessary to provide timely information after extreme weather events, acknowledging that formal peer review often takes months or years. The organization states that its studies are eventually published in peer-reviewed journals and lists examples on its website. The WWA's research methodology involves analyzing real-world weather data and comparing current event likelihood with pre-industrial era frequencies.

The WWA acknowledges that data limitations or model suitability can sometimes hinder their ability to provide numerical results. They emphasize, however, that an inconclusive result does not necessarily imply that climate change played no role. The WWA did not respond to requests for comment.