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 climate change. 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 United States. 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, Virginia has seven resident deniers who have taken $1,265,624 in career dirty energy contributions. In comparison, the remaining six members of the Virginia congressional delegation have only taken $304,532. The state has suffered eight climate-related disaster declarations since 2011, and parts of the state are already suffering from the impacts of sea-level rise. Below are quotes from six of Virginia’s resident climate deniers who refuse to believe there is a problem to address:

Rep. (R-VA-07): “If there’s been any constant in human history, it’s been climate change. The real question is the severity of that and the involvement of human causes in all of that.” [ThinkProgress, December 7, 2009]

Rep. J. (R-VA-04): “Elected officials need to depend on experts in the field to make determinations on the degree to which our planet is warming, and there is evidence among scientists and researchers pointing in both directions.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 4, 2010]

Rep. (R-VA-06): “There is no doubt that the earth’s climate is changing. The earth and its climate are dynamic, and have changed throughout history even without human activity. We have reached a point where some experts concur that the earth is once again warming. Regardless of the reason, the debate over climate change should remind us that we should be good stewards of our planet.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 4, 2010]

Rep. (R-VA-09): “[Climate change] led to the Vikings dominating Europe for several hundred years.” [Climate Change Hearing, March 8, 2011]

Rep. (R-VA-05): Rep. Hurt said that Climategate is “scientists who have given us something that is not true. It is faulty information and it has real consequences in the 5th District, in the loss of jobs and in power bills from Appalachian Power Co.” [Daily Progress, February 28, 2010]

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-01): “We must recognize that these climactic cycles of heating and cooling have been going on well before man appeared on earth.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 4, 2010]