NOAA nominee ignores Trump administration talking points on cause of climate change
AccuWeather exec contradicts the president and most of his top appointees.
President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) admitted to senators during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that humans are the main cause of climate change, contradicting the statements of the president and several of his cabinet secretaries.
Citing the conclusions in the recently released National Climate Assessment, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) asked the nominee, Barry Lee Myers, whether he believes that humans are the primary cause of global climate change. Myers initially responded that he has read the report and has no reason to disagree with its results.
Dissatisfied with the response, Markey asked, “Does that mean you agree with them?” Myers once again said he believes the report was based on high-quality, peer-reviewed research.
Markey gave the line of questioning one more try. “So you agree that humans are the main cause of climate change. Is that what you’re saying?” the Massachusetts senator asked.
“That is what I am saying,” Myers responded.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration released the congressionally-mandated National Climate Assessment, the work of scientists from 13 federal agencies, including NOAA. “Based on extensive evidence… it is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century,” researchers wrote in the assessment, the most comprehensive and detailed report ever done on climate change and its specific impact on America.
