| October 1, 2009 |  |
George Will Distorts Climate Science, Again
George Will can't seem to get his facts straight on global warming, but in his latest column he seems to be getting "warmer." Instead of wrongly claiming that the Earth is cooling, as he has been criticized for in past columns, he now cites a New York Times article that refers to current temperature trends as a temporary "plateau" on our way to overall warming.
But, oddly, Will ends his column with a suggestion: "America needs a national commission appointed to assess the evidence about climate change."
Huh?
Will seems not to be reading his own paper. As Union of Concerned Scientists climate scientist Brenda Ekwurzel wrote in a Washington Post letter to the editor, "Mr. Will should take a look at the federal government's recent report 'Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States' to find out the facts."
If Will had read the report, which was produced by a consortium of scientists at 13 federal agencies and several major universities and research institutes, he would have found among its key findings:
- Global warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced.
- Climate changes are underway in the United States and are projected to grow.
- Widespread climate-related impacts are occurring now and are expected to increase.
- The amount and rate of future climate change depend primarily on current and future human-caused emissions of heat-trapping gases and airborne particles.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
