4 editorial standards of the journal. These assessments are solicited and assessed before research papers are accepted for publication. The editors of the journal may reject or require significant changes in papers before publication in response to such independent peer reviews. The vast majority of scholarly journals rely on volunteer editors and reviewers. Peer review in the sciences, including in climate science, is the core mechanism by which rigorous standards and best practices of scientific quality in publications are maintained. Q4: In the study, it states that your group extended Richard Heede’s calculations using a simple climate model. What was the reason, if any, in extending Heede’s calculations? A4: Richard Heede’s data show annual emissions of carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere. They are not a direct calculation of the consequent changes in climate resulting from those emissions. See also answer to question # 1. Q5: What is this simple climate model? A5: We use a global energy-balance coupled climate-carbon-cycle model to assess the change in atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane concentrations, radiative forcing, global mean surface temperature, and global sea level rise resulting from emissions traced to these 90 major carbon producers. Q6: What are the advantages, if any, in using this climate model? A6: Climate models that rely on the underpinnings of reduced-complexity climate models and fully coupled earth-system models have several advantages. Calibrated with historical observations and fully coupled global climate models, they can provide robust output to characterize global atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane, radiative forcing, global mean surface temperature, and global sea level. This approach allows for natural and anthropogenic forcings to be included or excluded to test the relative contributions from human-caused emissions at policy-relevant levels of uncertainty. Q7: Was there a basis, if any, in using this particular climate model? A7: The model used here is well-established in the scientific literature. It is based on the impulse response function approach presented in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change fifth assessment report, published in 2014. Q8: On pages 5 to 8 of your study, you mentioned of three (3) global influence of emissions traced to major carbon producers, which are: atmospheric carbon dioxide, global mean surface temperature, and global sea level. Can you please enlighten us on major findings of your study? A8: Here are some of the major findings: • Emissions traced to the 90 largest carbon producers contributed approximately 57 percent of the observed rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide, nearly 50 percent of the rise in global average temperature, and around 30 percent of global sea level rise between 1880-2010;