Global Warming

Global warming is scientific fact. According to NASA scientists, 2007 tied with 1998 for the title of Earth’s second warmest year on record. [NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies [1]] In fact, the eight warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998, and the 14 warmest years have all occurred since 1990. The polar icecaps are unquestionably melting. There is overwhelming agreement among climate scientists that an increase in greenhouse gases caused by human activity has contributed to the problem of global warming. [Harris Poll [2]]

Global warming has already caused extensive damage. In recent years, western states have endured severe wildfires. Drought has created dust storms in the Great Plains, floods have caused billions of dollars in damage, and hurricanes have become more destructive. Three independent government reports released in the past year found that global warming is contributing to these environmental disasters. [GAO [2], USDA [3], National Science and Technology Council [4]]

Air pollution that causes global warming is disproportionately generated by the United States. Though the entire world contributes to the buildup of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, the U.S. emits the most global-warming pollution. Americans make up just four percent of the world’s population, but produce 25 percent of the carbon-dioxide pollution from fossil fuels. [National Resources Defense Council [5]]

The Bush administration not only did nothing to combat global warming, it also cooked the books, pressuring government scientists to mislead Americans about the climate change threat. From the House Oversight Committee to the Union of Concerned Scientists to the testimony of NASA scientist James Hansen, it is well documented that the Bush administration, as the NASA Inspector General put it, “reduced, marginalized, or mischaracterized climate change science” to mislead policymakers and the public about the dangers of global warming.” [NASA Inspector General [6], Washington Post [7]] The most recent federal government report on global warming only saw daylight after a years-long judicial battle forced it out. [New York Times [8]]

Conservatives in Congress repeatedly blocked legislation to address global warming. When conservatives controlled Congress, nothing was done to address America’s addiction to oil or to make renewable energy accessible and affordable. Now majorities in both houses support clean energy, but the conservative minority in the Senate killed legislation in 2007 that would have required 15 percent of our electricity to come from renewable sources. Moreover, conservatives used a filibuster to block the 2008 bipartisan global warming bill in the U.S. Senate. [Washington Post [9]]