Huffman Calls for Action on Climate Change

Congressman Jared Huffman, who represents the North Bay in Washington, D.C., recently shot back at conservative pundits who have pointed to cold temperatures as evidence that global warming is not happening.

In a speech to the House of Representatives Tuesday, Congressman Huffman called these remarks “unscientific and reductive” and instead urged representatives to take immediate steps to adopt new policies that take into account the changing climate.

“Winter happens every year,” Huffman said. “...Instead of looking at December snowflakes we should be looking at the science. Since 1970, not that long ago, winter temperatures have increased an average of 0.55 degrees per decade, reducing snowpacks and creating water shortages across the country.

“If you want to look at something immediate, look at California, where we are experiencing the driest year on record…Our water supply, our food supply, and our future will all be impacted by climate change, so let’s lead.”

Watch the video of the full speech above or by clicking here

According to Think Progress, nearly 60 percent of Congressional Republicans deny that climate change is happening or that it’s caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Seventeen out of 22 Republican members of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, or 77 percent, deny that climate change is happening, according to the site, as do 22 out of 30 Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.