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Home , Jim Bridenstine, Jim Inhofe

ANTI-SCIENCE CLIMATE DENIER CAUCUS

Climate change is happening, and humans are the cause. But a shocking number of congressional Republicans—more than 55 percent—refuse to accept it.

One hundred and fifty-seven elected representatives from the 113th Congress have taken more than $51 million from the fossil-fuel industry, which is the driving force behind the carbon emissions that cause . These representatives deny what more than 97 percent of climate scientists say is happening: Current human activity creates the greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat within the atmosphere and cause climate change.

And their constituents are paying the price, with Americans across the nation suffering 368 climate-related national disaster declarations since 2011. There were 25 extreme weather events that each caused at least $1 billion in damage since 2011, including Superstorm Sandy and overwhelming drought that has covered almost the entire western half of the . Combined, these extreme weather events were responsible for 1,107 fatalities and up to $188 billion in economic damages.

We have a moral obligation to act on climate change to protect our future generations. Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus and high costs to taxpayers, Oklahoma has four resident deniers who have taken $2,472,269 in career dirty energy contributions. There have been an astounding 38 climate-related disaster declarations in Oklahoma since 2011. The financial impact from the ongoing drought due to crop and livestock losses, wildfire damage, and other municipal costs totaled more than $426 million in 2012. Combined with 2011’s $1.6 billion setback, the state has suffered more than $2 billion in drought-related agricultural losses since 2011. Below are quotes from Oklahoma’s four members of Congress who refuse to believe there is a problem to address:

Rep. (R-OK-01): “[Rep. Bridenstine] downplayed the need for more climate research by noting that atmospheric temperatures have not risen over the last decade, and said temperatures coincide more with solar activity than with man-made factors. ‘Global temperatures stopped rising 10 years ago,’ he said. ‘Global temperature changes, when they exist, correlate with sun output and ocean cycles.’ He noted the Medieval Warm Period that happened ‘long before cars, power plants and the industrial revolution.’ And he noted the Little Ice Age, which also happened irrespective of human activity. ‘Even climate change alarmists admit that the number of hurricanes hitting the U.S. and the number of tornado touchdowns have been on a slow decline for over 100 years,’ he said.” [, June 11, 2013]

Rep. (R-OK-05): “This whole global warming myth will be exposed as what it really is — a way of control more than anything else. And that generation will be ticked.” [The Edmond Sun, February 16, 2010]

Sen. (R-OK): “I’ve read the basic scientific studies, and a lot of it doesn’t add up for me.” [The Norman Transcript, August 21, 2012]

Sen. (R-OK): “‘I was not surprised to see myself front and center on the promotional material for this climate change movie,’ [Rep. Inhofe] told the , ‘and quite frankly, I'm proud of it.’ Inhofe has long called climate change a ‘,’ insisting ‘we're in a cold spell’ when it snows, despite the body of scientific evidence showing that humans contribute to global warming. Inhofe is featured front and center in a promotional poster for the film, which is executive-produced by actress-turned-activist Daryl Hannah, and appears multiple times throughout its trailer. He is also ‘singled out for his obstructionist rhetoric’ throughout the film, according to 's review.” [The Huffington Post, March 29, 2013]