You know how some wackadoo rightwing group is always touting a new list of scientists who don't believe in global warming? And it always turns out the list is populated with a bunch of random people who either don't know they're on it or don't have the first bit of expertise on the subject?

Well, the Union of Concerned Scientists is trying a different tack. They've compiled a list composed of actual Ph.D. climate scientists who have published in peer-reviewed journals, and actual prominent economists, all of whom explicitly agreed to be on the list. There are 1,700 of them, and they want immediate action on climate change:

More than 1,700 of the nation's most prominent scientists and economists today released a joint statement calling on policymakers to require immediate, deep reductions in heat-trapping emissions that cause global warming. Issued just days before the Senate begins debate on the Lieberman-Warner climate bill, the statement marks the first time leading U.S. scientists and economists have joined together to make such an appeal.

You can download the letter and the full list of signatures here. It will be distributed to every member of Congress.

I'm dubious about how helpful the My List Is Bigger Than Yours wars will be in the end, but at least UCS has done it right.