Trump moves to de-fang global warming science with 'climate review panel' led by Princeton physicist who believes 'The 'demonization of carbon dioxide' is like 'the poor Jews under Hitler'
- President Donald Trump and his administration are planning an attack on the science upon which climate change policy rests
- The administration's new climate review panel is led by a Princeton physicist famous for defending the use of carbon dioxide
- The demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler,' said William Happer
- Some officials have warned this could be seen as an attack on science
- But Trump is said to be unpersuaded by this argument
- The president has publicly expressed skepticism of global warming
President Donald Trump and his administration are planning an attack on the science upon which climate change policy rests, it was revealed on Tuesday.
Leading the charge will be the administration's new climate review panel led by a 79-year-old Princeton physicist who has become famous for defending the use of carbon dioxide - even comparing its demonization to the treatment of Jews under German dictator Adolf Hitler.
'The demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler,' said William Happer, who serves on the National Security Council as the president's deputy assistant for emerging technologies, to The New York Times.
President Donald Trump and his administration are planning an attack on the science upon which climate change policy rests
Leading the charge is Princeton physicist William Happer, who serves on the National Security Council, and compared the demonization of carbon dioxide to the treatment of Jews under German dictator Adolf Hitler
Happer is backed by National Security Adviser John Bolton, who brought him on board and supports the new climate panel.
The two men are also backed by Robert and Rebekah Mercer, the ultra-conservative billionaire and his daughter who have funded efforts to debunk climate science.
But some administration officials - such as economic adviser Larry Kudlow - have advised the president not to follow Happer's recommendations as it would be seen as an attack on science.
Former White House counselor Stephen Bannon, known for his far-right views, is even against it.
'The very idea will start a holy war on cable before 2020,' he told the newspaper. 'Better to win now and introduce the study in the second inaugural address.'
But Trump is reported to be unpersuaded by their comments.
Happer is backed by National Security Adviser John Bolton (left) although officials like White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow (right) have expressed skepticism of Happer
Happer and Bolton are backed by billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebeckah Mercer
Additional steps the administration is taking include cutting back on reporting about the future effects of the rapidly warming planet.
James Reilly, the White House-appointed director of the United States Geological Survey, has ordered that scientific assessments produced by his office use only computer-generated climate models that project the impact of climate change through 2040, rather than through the end of the century, as had been done previously, the Times reported.
Scientists argue that is misleading because the biggest effects of climate change will be felt after 2040.
'What we have here is a pretty blatant attempt to politicize the science - to push the science in a direction that's consistent with their politics,' said Philip Duffy, the president of the Woods Hole Research Center, to the Times.
'It reminds me of the Soviet Union,' he noted.
Trump has rolled back Obama-era climate regulations since he took office. He also withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord.
And he's personally show plenty of skepticism about global warming.
In January, as winter storms hit the Midwest, Trump tweeted: 'Wouldn't be bad to have a little of that good old fashioned Global Warming right now!'
And, a few days later, he tweeted: 'What the hell is going on with Global Waming? Please come back fast, we need you!'
In March he tweeted a comment from a climate skeptic, Patrick Moore, who was identified by Fox News as a co-founder of Green Peace - although the organization said that is incorrect.
'Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace: 'The whole climate crisis is not only Fake News, it's Fake Science. There is no climate crisis, there's weather and climate all around the world, and in fact carbon dioxide is the main building block of all life.' @foxandfriends Wow!,' Trump tweeted on March 12.
As Trump and his administration have pushed their climate views, reports from his government have been used to debunk some of those claims.
It was reported earlier this year that the National Climate Assessment - a report produced of 13 government agencies - found the U.S. economy could lose hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century because of climate change.
That 2018 report also showcased the dire effects of climate change and warned they could get worse.
President Trump has publicly expressed skepticism of climate change
The National Climate Assessment report is now under target from the Trump administration.
The next report, which is expected to come out in 2021 or 20222, will not have the worst-case scenario projections that were automatically included in previous editions.
Trump has expressed skepticism about the report, telling The Washington Post in a November 2018 interview: 'One of the problems that a lot of people like myself, we have very high levels of intelligence but we're not necessarily such believers.'
'As to whether or not it's man-made and whether or not the effects that you're talking about are there, I don't see it,' he added.
And White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told the Post of the report: 'We think that this is the most extreme version and it's not based on facts. It's not data-driven. We'd like to see something that is more data-driven. It's based on modeling, which is extremely hard to do when you're talking about the climate. Again, our focus is on making sure we have the safest, cleanest air and water.'
The climate policy changes from the Trump administration come among a heated Democratic presidential primary contest where voters name climate change one of their top issues.
Climate change is a big issue in the Democratic presidential primary with Jay Inslee (left) and Beto O'Rourke (center) already offering plans and Joe Biden (right) promising one by the end of the month
Climate change is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
A CNN poll in April found that 82 percent of registered voters who identified as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents named climate change as a 'very important' priority in the primary contest.
Candidates are responding.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has offered a detailed climate change proposal as has Beto O'Rourke. Former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to announce his plan by the end of the month.
Climate change is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is the result of the burning of fossil fuels, which trap the planet's heat.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the average temperature of Earth has increased by one degree Celsius.
