NASA announced that last month was the hottest September since scientists began keeping records on global temperature in 1880, reported ThinkProgress. Furthermore, NOAA projects that this year will be the hottest ever on record. Scientists understand this danger, but today’s crop of Republicans, possibly the most detrimental group of politicians to America in history, still don’t get it.
Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, during a debate yesterday against his Democratic challenger for the House, said that he doesn’t think that humans are causing climate change. “I don’t know the answer to that question,” said Ryan. “I don’t think science does either.” Ryan also retreated to the Republican adage that alternative energy sources were more costly and less beneficial than coal. However, a recently leaked report indicates that assumption is dead wrong.
Motherboard reported that the leaked study done by the European Commission indicated that wind power is vastly less costly than coal. According to the report, originally covered by the Guardian, “for every megawatt hour (MW/h) of electricity generated, onshore wind costs roughly [$130 USD] per MW/h compared to gas and coal which can cost up to around $208 and $295 per MW/h, respectively.”
The report continued: “Nuclear power, offshore wind and solar energy are all comparably inexpensive generators.”
Motherboard also noted a 2011 report where Paul Epstein of Harvard asserted in a study that coal “inflicted between $345 – $500 billion worth of damage on the US economy.” The reasons for this damage were similar to why the European report said coal was so costly.
Presumptuous though this may sound, surely there are similar studies been in America that could corroborate these findings made by the European Commission. Granted this is brand new information, but how can Ryan and others like him be so arrogant to say that they don’t think science knows about climate change and its cause?
Considering the stubborn stupidity of Republicans, it can’t be iterated enough that nearly the entire scientific community agrees that climate change is happening. Additionally, they agree that human activity is the most likely cause.
Glaciers are melting at a record pace, climate is rapidly changing, sea levels are rising, but the hapless crop of politicians who have virtually zero scientific knowledge are trying to lead this country away from the path of scientific-based logic and answers. How are these people not getting this, and why do they consistently refuse to implement useful policy?
Josh is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. Follow him on Twitter @dnJdeli.
