An outgoing Republican congressman used a House science and environment subcommittee hearing this week as an opportunity to chide his party for its growing skepticism about the threat of global warming and to warn of missed economic opportunities in clean energy development if climate change is ignored.
Bob Inglis of South Carolina lost in a primary to a Tea Party-backed opponent after serving six terms in the House. He was one of a dwindling number of House Republicans who have publicly called for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, although he did not vote in favor of the Democrats’ 2009 cap-and-trade bill.
(Climate change skeptics will be more prevalent in the incoming Congress, as our colleague John Broder noted in a post this afternoon.)
Mr. Inglis used an analogy comparing the climate to a sick child.
“Your child is sick,” he said. “Ninety-eight doctors say treat him this way. Two say no, this other way is the way to go.”
By taking the minority viewpoint that carbon emissions are not a problem, “you’re taking a big risk with those kids,” he said.
On clean energy development, Mr. Inglis warned his Republican colleagues that China was preparing to “eat our lunch.”
“They plan on innovating around these problems, and selling to us, and the rest of the world, the technology that’ll lead the 21st century,” he said. “We may press the pause button for a few years, but China is pressing the fast-forward button.”
Other Republicans on the subcommittee stood by their doubts on climate change. Among those questioning the validity of climate science was Ralph Hall of Texas, the leading candidate to take the House Science and Technology gavel in next year’s Congress.
Mr. Hall, 87, told The Dallas Morning News several weeks ago that he had “almost been assured” of the post by the House leadership.
He has voiced serious doubts about humans’ potential to influence the climate and at the hearing he vowed to query climate scientists under oath about the integrity of their research when he became chairman of the science subcommittee.
The departing Mr. Inglis warned climate scientists to prepare for this type of grilling by the new Congress.
“I’d encourage scientists who are listening out there to get ready for the hearings that are coming up in the next Congress,” he said. “Those will be difficult hearings for climate scientists. But I would encourage you to welcome those as fabulous opportunities to teach.”
11-23-2010, 06:35 AM
someguy
Re: A Warning About Climate Change From a Departing Republican
Well to some degree I agree with Rep. Inglis. We should be transferring our energy sources to very clean renewable energy and we should be leading the way, not China. Developing and selling this technology is probably the best way for us to create jobs and dig ourselves out of this rut of an economy that we find ourselves in. Although I still disagree wholeheartedly about the science that supposedly confirms man made climate change.
11-24-2010, 08:34 AM
Valley Oak
Re: A Warning About Climate Change From a Departing Republican
Once again, the blistering ignorance of Climate Change Denial rears its ugly head.
Digging your heals in denial never solved any problems in life, son. The sooner that you and your ilk learn this valuable lesson, the better off this country will be.
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by someguy:
Well to some degree I agree with Rep. Inglis. ...Although I still disagree wholeheartedly about the science that supposedly confirms man made climate change.
11-24-2010, 08:51 AM
someguy
Re: A Warning About Climate Change From a Departing Republican
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Valley Oak:
Once again, the blistering ignorance of Climate Change Denial rears its ugly head.
Digging your heals in denial never solved any problems in life, son. The sooner that you and your ilk learn this valuable lesson, the better off this country will be.
I could say the same for you. I don't because I'm not an ass, but maybe you should do some research or at least look at some of my posts which provide some great evidence in regards to climate change being a fallacy. Happy research.
