I testified in front of the House Subcommittee on Environment last week. Here’s some of what was said...
Today's hearing is intended to provide members a high-level overview of the key factors that should inform our decision-making on what is unfortunately one of the most controversial public policy issues of our day.
--Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), Subcommittee chair
Climate Models Critiqued by House Member
Consensus climate models have such poor track records. These models regularly overstate the temperature changes.
--Subcommittee chair Stewart
Fact check: see this graphic.
Who Cares About U.S. Emissions Anyway?
Cutting U.S. emissions will have little or no effect on global greenhouse gas emissions.
--Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), chair of Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Fact check: In 2008, the United States emitted 19 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions.
On Emissions: The Costs of Cutting vis-à-vis Recent U.S. Trends
There are advocates that the U.S. needs to cut its CO2 emissions. … All that does is put us at an economic disadvantage ... our quality of life will go down.
--Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX)
I’m worried that [Obama's] anticipated restrictions on industrial CO2 emissions will have no discernible impact on the climate but will amount to a significant energy tax on the American people.
--Committee chair Stewart
The U.S. reduced its CO2 emissions by 12% over the last seven years.
--Subcommittee chair Smith
With respect to high costs of lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, it is relevant to note that that 12 percent cut in emissions that Congressman Smith pointed to (and the kind of cuts his colleagues claimed would be so economically painful) came about while the U.S. gross domestic product increased by increased by more than 5 percent (in real dollars) over the same period.
A Topic of Some Interest: The Price of My Home and the Planet
There is, of course, much room for debate about what policies should be implemented to respond to climate change and its impacts, but uncertainty is not a reason for inaction. We, as individuals and as a society, often act in the face of uncertainty... I, for example, cannot predict if, let alone when, there will be a fire in my house, but I pay for fire insurance.
--Bill Chameides, witness
[Yes, but what if] ... your house is worth $100 thousand but it costs $200 thousand for that insurance?
--Committee chair Stewart
It's easier to replace a house than a planet.
--Ranking Member Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Question That Stumped All the Witnesses Is Answered by the Questioner
Are y'all aware of the amount of energy required to run an electricity grid the size of ... Texas ... how much is AC and how much is DC?
[Witnesses respond that they do not]
Well, I own an air conditioning company and I can tell you it's a huge amount."
--Rep. Weber
A Final Insight on Climate Change
Maybe the sun has something to do with it.
--Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Related Links
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 1
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 2
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 3
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 4
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 5
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 6
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 7
• Climate Change Chatter, Issue 8
Crossposted with TheGreenGrok and National Geographic's Great Energy Challenge blog | Find us on Facebook