Scientists are coming together to grapple with the newly empowered Republicans in congress, who are preparing to launch an inquisition into Climate Science on behalf of their Oil and Coal Company sponsors.
Climate scientists plan campaign against global warming skeptics
The American Geophysical Union plans to announce that 700 researchers have agreed to speak out on the issue. Other scientists plan a pushback against congressional conservatives who have vowed to kill regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.
Faced with rising political attacks, hundreds of climate scientists are joining a broad campaign to push back against congressional conservatives who have threatened prominent researchers with investigations and vowed to kill regulations to rein in man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
The still-evolving efforts reveal a shift among climate scientists, many of whom have traditionally stayed out of politics and avoided the news media. Many now say they are willing to go toe-to-toe with their critics, some of whom gained new power after the Republicans won control of the House in Tuesday's election.
Scientists have come to the realization for their findings on climate change must gain widespread acceptance before their findings will be acted upon effectively, scientists can no longer confine their science to academia. John Abraham from St. Thomas University who took the lead in countering the climategate fabrications had this to say:
"We are taking the fight to them because we are ... tired of taking the hits. The notion that truth will prevail is not working. The truth has been out there for the past two decades, and nothing has changed."
The political situation in the United States is unique in the world. No other sizable conservative political party denies the science on human caused climate change. Not one. Only America's Republican Party could be so craven and short sighted.
from Mother Jones:
The GOP's Coming Climate Witch Hunt
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the incoming head of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has pledged to hold hearings on the "Politicization of Science," which will consist of a rehashing of the so-called ClimateGate "scandal." He's also called for greater oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency's coming regulations of greenhouse gases. With Issa in charge, the oversight committee will devote a good deal of time to hauling government and university climate scientists before Congress.
Issa, Sensenbrenner, and Barton would have significant support for their war on science in the 112th Congress. Half of the caucus flatly denies that the planet is warming. Only four House Republicans have openly accepted the science of climate change.
Karl Rove assured the GOP's corporate sponsors the fix is in on global warming.
Rove to drillers: ‘Expect sensible regulation’
"Climate is gone," said Rove, the keynote speaker on the opening day of a two-day shale-gas conference sponsored by Hart Energy Publishing L.L.P. And Rove told the trade show, "I don't think you need to worry" the new Congress will consider proposed legislation to put the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing under federal rather than state regulation. The procedure, known as "fracking," is responsible for the dramatic growth of shale-gas drilling in formations such as Pennsylvania's vast Marcellus Shale.
"I think we're back to a period of sensible regulation," said Rove, a commentator on Fox News and in the Wall Street Journal.
While Rove spoke, several hundred colorfully dressed anti-drilling activists protested outside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, but their drum beats could not be heard inside the conference as about 2,000 people dined on steak and potatoes, followed by Rove's analysis of Tuesday's election.
One one way Rove was right. The climate as we knew it and as our ancestors knew it is going away, not to return for a very very long time. How long depends on us.
Earth will take 100,000 years to recover from global warming say geologists
The Geological Society warned that it could take the Earth 100,000 years to recover.
A statement read: "The geological evidence from the 55 million year event and from earlier warming episodes suggests that such an addition [a massive increase in greenhouse gases caused by the activities of mankind] is likely to raise average global temperatures by at least 5 to 6C, and possibly more, and that recovery of the Earth’s climate in the absence of mitigation measures could take 100,000 years or more. Numerical models of the climate system support such an interpretation. In the light of the evidence presented here it is reasonable to conclude that emitting further large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over time is likely to be unwise, uncomfortable though that fact may be."
For more on the mechanics of the counter attack against the climate denial hacks in congress see the WaPo: Scientists launch climate science counterattacks
The Republicans running for Chairman of the House Energy Committee along with the craven Joe Barton are Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns, Oregon Rep. Greg Walden and Illinois Rep. John Shimkus who thinks God will pervent climate change.
God will save us from climate change: U.S. Representative
U.S. Representative John Shimkus, possible future chairman of the Congressional committee that deals with energy and its attendant environmental concerns, believes that climate change should not concern us since God has already promised not to destroy the Earth.
Shimkus, an evangelical Christian and a Republican member of the House from Illinois, on Tuesday signalled his desire to become chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
From The Nation:
Climate Change Denier Aims to Chair House Energy Committee
Shimkus has served on the committee since 1997, and promises a more aggressive approach than Representative Fred Upton of Michigan, his other competitor.
Shimkus sees climate change in a biblical context. In March 2009, speaking to the House Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Shimkus quoted Chapter 8, Verse 22 of Genesis to explain his belief that the earth will not be destroyed by climate change.
If Shimkus wasn't so scary I'd be tempted to laugh. That someone like Shimkus or Barton are getting serious consideration illistrate how much the House's leadership has deteriorated with the Republicans taking control.
There is some good news from the Senate, ...but not from the American Senate, from the Nigerian Senate:Senate approves National Climate Change Commission
While the Nigerian Senate moves forward the U.S. Congress is moving backward.
We did see some progress today at the E.P.A.
EPA issues state guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions
On Jan. 2, the country's largest emitters of greenhouse gases will have to show state regulators how they plan to curb such emissions when they build new facilities or make major changes in existing facilities that result in increased discharges of the gases that most scientists link to climate change and global warming.
While requiring states to secure plans for controlling carbon emissions, the guidelines gave states latitude to determine on a case-by-case basis the "best available" pollution control technology that industrial facilities could use.
Even though the new E.P.A. rules on industrial CO2 emissions leave the states a lot of leeway Texas (where else?) has declared it will ignore the new E.P.A. regulations.
Texas won't follow new U.S. greenhouse gas policy
And of course this sure to drive the anti-science Tea Party crazy(er).
We can't expect the scientist to better educate the American Public all by themselves. We have to show our support for the scientists by becoming part of their educational outreach. We have to weave this stark new reality into the fabric of our national culture. That's going to take a conscious effort by all of us.