White House Cover Up of Global Warming Dangers Must End Now

You have heard me say many times that this administration has downplayed the dangers posed by global warming. They have used every excuse to avoid taking action, even hiding behind China and India.

Now, thanks to a very brave former EPA official, Jason Burnett, we know that the administration's efforts have been about covering up the real threats of global warming and hiding the facts from the public.

Back in October of 2007, when the Senate Environment Committee held a hearing on the health impacts of global warming, we were stunned to learn that the testimony of CDC Director Julie Gerberding had been watered down and heavily redacted. Entire pages on global warming and public health -- from air pollution to disease to food and water shortages -- had been deleted.

Jason Burnett's letter provides new evidence of what we have long suspected -- that this cover-up is part of a master plan being directed from the White House and the Office of the Vice President.

In April 2007, the Supreme Court overruled the EPA and established that greenhouse gas emissions are clearly covered by the Clean Air Act. A first step to regulation is a finding that global warming pollution "endangers public health or welfare."

CDC's original testimony clearly would have supported an endangerment finding -- and that's why the White House tried to suppress it. Fortunately, thanks to the free press and the work of congressional committees, the CDC's concerns were made known.

Story continues below

advertisement

By last December, the EPA had finally decided to begin to tell the truth about the dangers posed by unchecked global warming. But the White House Office of Management and Budget wouldn't even open Jason Burnett's e-mail containing the endangerment finding.

When Jason refused a request from the White House to retract the e-mail, the finding was left in limbo.

Jason resigned from the EPA last month after concluding that no constructive action on global warming would take place during this administration.

This cover-up has got to end.

Yesterday, I called on EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to release every document related to the threat global warming poses to the public -- including the endangerment e-mail left in cyberspace. EPA should also immediately move forward with strong regulations on global warming emissions.

If Mr. Johnson does not have the strength to stand up to the White House and take these steps, he should resign. The American people need the head of the EPA to be an independent advocate for their health and their environment.

In the end, this is about protecting the public and the planet.

Let me close with an analogy. If I knew that danger was lurking around the corner, and I watched as a group of innocent people walked around that very corner without warning them, I would be guilty of a reckless and unconscionable act.

History will judge this Bush administration harshly for recklessly covering up a real threat to the people they are supposed to protect.

Comments

[RedDogBear]

Senator Boxer, in a time when even most democrats don't inspire much admiration I just want to say I'm consistently impressed with your integrity and judgement. I'm proud to have you as one of California's senators.

[Rockyman]

And the citizenry will also "judge" this Congress "harshly" for being spineless and compliant to a very destructive White House that has nearly destroyed hope we can turn things around in time to deter runaway climate change. We need leadership that will be unrelenting in voicing the truth about the uncomfortable change demanded in our current way-of-life to avert greater discomfort and possible calamity later. Many are at least talking about climate change and what might be done to mitigate it.......well lets get doing it......NOW!

[dobermanmacleod]

Without clean coal, any substancial emission cuts are unfeasible:

"The vast majority of new power stations in China and India will be coal-fired; not "may be coal-fired"; will be. So developing carbon capture and storage technology is not optional, it is literally of the essence." --"Breaking the Climate Deadlock," Tony Blair, June 26, 2008

But:

Vaclav Smil, an energy expert at the University of Manitoba, has estimated that capturing and burying just 10 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted over a year from coal-fire plants at current rates would require moving volumes of compressed carbon dioxide greater than the total annual flow of oil worldwide -- a massive undertaking requiring decades and trillions of dollars. "Beware of the scale," he stressed."

Some people think all you have to do is inform the public of the danger, and get politicians to agree to binding emission cuts, and everything will be OK:

"By the year 2050, the Census Bureau projects that our population will be around 420 million. This means per capita emissions will have to fall to about 2.5 tons in order to meet the goal of 80% reduction. It is likely that U.S. per capita emissions were never that low - even back in colonial days when the only fuel we burned was wood." --"The Real Cost of Tackling Climate Change," WSJ

[pmag88]

Floods, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and drought. Hey, no big deal. Just a little bad luck, and as long as we hang in there and keep doing exactly the same things, it's bound to get better. Just a matter of time.

[ProudNeoCon]

This is insane... We keep making our industries less competitive by seting up additional "global warming" costs while China races ahead. We refuse to tap our oil resources because of carabu while gas goes to $5. we even refuse to put wind turbine as to not hurt the bird...

[PKSSK]

Senator Boxer, please tells us why Pelosi is protecting this administration and their ex-political staff, Bush's brain, who has been required to legally appear before the justice committee. What has she done that prevents her and others from protecting the constitution of the US?????

[Bettysdad]

Why would anyone think that any Republican do anything to help the majority of Americans? By definition that's not what they do.

The only solution is the complete and utter destruction of the Right. As long as these thugs, who somehow learned to knot a necktie, are walking around there is no possibility of improvement.

[darker]

Yes, the RIGHT IS WRONG and must be destroyed if AMERICA IS TO BE SAVED.

Republicans SPECIALIZE IN War profiteers, greedy opportunists, deregulated and corrupt corporations, and death and destruction--whileLAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK
WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS from the USTreasury in the biggest GIVEAWAY in the history of
America.

Bush-Cheney & Pals STEAL FROM AMERICANS while killing USTroops abroad.

[vfx]

Barbara, As a Californian I want Cheney impeached now. Pelosi has given them Carte Blanche do do whatever they want by saying "off the table". Any petulant 13 year old would do the same without fear of punishment..

[leftcoastindy]

How is it that of all the supposed thousand's of climatologist who don't believe in AGW, none of them seem to be fronting for Bushco. 'The office of the VP' is all we hear.

Wouldn't it make sense to have some 'credentialed climatologist' to come forward and explain why we didn't need to put the 'uncensored version' of the report in front of the public?

[rextrek]

Harshly worded letters, and ASKING for these criminals to show up to hearings......then they spit in your/Congress's face...and don't show...and NOTHING is done???? Could the average American asked to testify before congress JUST NOT SHOW UP..? NO! They'd be arrested..... seems from the comments above, and mine..Over-all people appreciate your wrk Ms Boxer..as do I....but Congress has basically let the Bush Administration WALK ALL OVER THEM! Can it be that the "secret spying" the president didbefore 9/11 and DOES NOW - has caught SOME people in in Congress/Senate in certain"circumstances" thats has allowed them to be BLACKMAILED by Bush & Cheney? ..and this is why nothing is FOLLOWED thru on? I think alot of people actually think that is the case.....and thats why Congress/senate have not moved to HOLD any of these Criminals accountable. As a 47yr old American.....I have NEVER seen,or felt like my country is in such PERIL is EVERY aspect as it is now! Im a Disgusted American!!!

[NorCalNative]

Senator Boxer, thank you for your efforts for the American people. Pointing out this CENSORSHIP and COVER-UP is a step in the right direction. I support your efforts to see that science and not propaganda becomes the basis and primary driver of our national policy on climate. I am also proud to support your recent comments against telecom immunity in the FISA legislation.

Please know we've got your back if you ever decide to impeach this crew over any one of the thousands of anti-Constitutional and illegal acts they've been guilty of.

Senator, without accountability and the rule-of-law some of us worry if we still remain a Republic. Because I gotta tell you, from where I sit, it sure looks, walks and talks like a MONARCHY!

[pinkyboo]

History WILL judge Bush harshly - but also Congress for letting him get away with it!!!!!!!!!!

[larry278]

The occupants of the White House will continue to deny that global warming is a problem for the USA till the ocean covers Washington, DC & W Va's Greenbrier becomes an ocean front resort. The Capitol of the USA will be removed to Denver, Co.

[esquire07]

With all due respect Senator - the Democratic cowards will do nothing - as usual.

Perhaps you and "Impeachement off the Table" Pelosi should do your job and start Impeachement proceeding agians the War Criminal Bush.

Your words are hollow Madam. The Nation has no faith in you or thye lying democratic cowards who bend every time to Bush and enable him to continue destroying the Constituion and the Nation.

Shame on you... and especially Impeachment off the Table Pelois.

[legalclubs]

Senator,

Yes the earth was slightly warmer over the last 6 or 7 years, yet the 1930s was the hotest decade on record and the man-made CO2 ommissions back then were minimal compared to now. What gives?

Now we hear the earth appears to be getting slightly cooler -- yet the man-made CO2 production is going up. How do you explain this? Doesn't this directly contradict every global warming model? Remember Al Gore's chart regarding temperature projections -- did you ever see him lower the lift to mark a future decrease?

There are some very good reasons to reduce our oil usage and develop and build alternative energy sources, such a nuclear power plants, but these mainly have to due with cutting off the funds to those who would due us harm in the middle east and reducing general pollution. However, the claim that global warming will cause the oceans to rise and flood worldwide coast lines is just a huge lie. I know, I know...my skeptism of the religion of global warming will get all of your panties in a twist saying I don't know the science bla bla bla.... However, I'm taking bets that in the next 5 years we won't see one year of average temperate that is higher than the highest temperate recorded over the last 20 years. Any takers?

[hardlyhikin]

I assume you're referring to "temperature", not "temperate", correct?
Second, the highest temperature recorded in any given year is probably well into the 130s F, and NOBODY with half a brain would bet that average worldwide temperatures would exceed that for a year; when they do we'll probably all be dead.
What gives is:
1. That I'd bet you're wrong about the 30s.
2. There will always be fluctuations, both up and down, BUT the long range TREND is up. Try reading what the scientists say and not what Faux News and the Republicans say - they're not doing the research and they don't know anything more than you do.
3. We had vastly fewer carbon dioxide emitters in the early 20th century; far fewer cars, far fewer factories, far fewer people on the planet, far fewer of them driving automobiles and burning coal.
A simple question for you; what if the scientists are right? Are you willing to leave a polluted toxic world to your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren? Reverse the question and I'll tell you that if the scientists are wrong then we end up spending a lot of money, we'll leave our kids a better earth to live in, and living on the earth will be just a little easier for everybody. Plus we'll have created a lot of jobs an income for all of us.
And finally, where you've used the word "due", the correct world is "do" - not to mention all your other

[legalclubs]

Don't get your panties in a twist about typos, it's just a blog post. Clearly you didn't read my last paragraph where I agreed that cutting the use of fossil fuels was a good thing because it cut pollution and didn't provide funding to those terrorists in the middle east. So were on the same page that advances which cut the need for our use of oil and coal are a good thing. However, my issued focused on an assumption you put forth, namely that "the long range TREND is up". My question to you is what would it take for you to question the validity of man made global warming? If the next five years all trend down from the highs is that sufficinet or will we all be talking about the global cooling crisis? Isn't it possible that like everything else on the planet that we just went through a warming cycle and maybe now were heading into a natural cooling cycle? Are you even capable of acknowledging the possbility that the CO2 theory of man made global warming is either wrong or at least overstated if the information that comes in over the next 5 years contradicts the theory?