Climate Change

Science is not about consensus. It is about testing theories with verifiable information. And when it comes to understanding climate change, there are competing theories. The fact is, we don't really know why the earth's climate warms and cools. What we do know is that climate is constantly changing and that the world, over its several billion year history, has had periods that were warmer and that were colder than the climate we experience today.

In fact, you might say that climate change is the norm when it comes to planet earth.

So the debate over whether carbon dioxide plays a significant role in altering the earth's climate is still a matter of scientific debate and investigation. However, most scientists and many policymakers understand that reducing, or even eliminating, all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions over the next 40 years is not likely to have much impact on global temperatures over the rest of this century. This is especially true if other large emitters of greenhouse gases such as China or India decline to reduce their emissions.

The rush to enact Climate Change Legislation began during a period when global temperatures appeared to be rising. However, during the last 10 years, average earth temperature has stopped rising and has actually cooled, a fact not predicted by the mathematical models used by proponents of strict emission limits on greenhouse gases.

Quick Facts

• Since 1998 the Earth's climate has declined.
• Even if the U.S. eliminated all of its greenhouse gas emissions, it is not likely to change average global temperatures.