Critical Thinking on Climate Change: Empirical Evidence to Consider Before Taking Regulatory Action and Implementing Economic Projects

 

Overview

US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Minority Staff Report provides the opportunity for critical analysis of climate science and expert testimony provided to the US Congress. The report ncludes updated empirical evidence regarding risks that have been highlighted in the public forum concerning climatic changes, the impacts of climate regulations on the European countries that have adopted restrictive policies, and a review of how empirical evidence is now stacking up to past predictions, recent claims, and modeled scenarios.

The report provides an opportunity to consider the underlying science and impacts of looming policy decisions in light of recent news that Australia has withdrawn their carbon tax, China and India are not expected to attend the upcoming UN summit conference in New York City, and only 11 of the 144 original parties to the Kyoto Protocol have thus far signed an extension.

Important facts were viewed as critical to include or otherwise update in the report. Influential testimony has been provided to Congress on the disastrous impacts climate regulations have had on Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. Beyond the negative economic and human impacts that are discussed is additional scientific information. Key information included in the updated report:

- Considerations of the benefits of CO2
- Wildfire and forestry management issues
- Polar Bear populations
- Inaccuracies in the Obama Administration's National Climate Assessment
- Updated data on extreme weather events