RAW STORY
Climate change is perhaps the most daunting global problem facing
humanity. But when it comes to climate science, at least one candidate
to lead the world’s most powerful nation is only as informed as the
average kindergartner.
A group of climate and biological scientists graded statements made
about the environment by candidates. Some, like Democrat Hillary
Clinton, performed well. Others — mostly Republicans flunked. But no one
performed worse than GOP candidate and Texas senator Ted Cruz,
according to the Associated Press.
None of the scientists knew which candidate said what. The contenders
for president were identified only by numbers and their comments were
graded anonymously.
“This individual understands less about science [and climate change]
than the average kindergartner,” wrote Michael Mann, a Pennsylvania
State University meteorology professor. “That sort of ignorance would be
dangerous in a doorman, let alone a president.”
The scientists point to statements that are plainly false. In August,
for example, Cruz said, “If you look at satellite data for the last 18
years, there’s been zero warming. … The satellite says it ain’t
happening.”
The opposite is true.
Florida State University’s James Elsner pointed out that data shows
every decade has been warmer than the last since the mid-1900s, the AP
reports. Satellite data shows “continued warming over the past several
decades,” and 2015 is set to be the warmest year on record.
Also earning the ire of scientists was Donald Trump, who said in
September, “It could be warming and it’s going to start to cool at some
point. And you know in the 1920s people talked about global cooling. I
don’t know if you know that or not. They thought the Earth was cooling.
Now it’s global warming. Actually, we’ve had times where the weather
wasn’t working out so they changed it to extreme weather and they have
all different names, you know, so that it fits the bill.”
Harvard’s Jim McCarthy called that “nonsense.”
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