I'm delighted to hear President-elect Obama's commitment to put science above politics and ideology; ending the dismal George W. Bush record of disregard for anything but predetermined outcomes-- especially harmful in regards to science.
"... the truth is that promoting science isn't just about providing resources — it's about protecting free and open inquiry. It's about ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology," the AP reports of Obama's radio address on the topic.
"In their posts, the four scientists will confront challenges in global warming after years of inaction by the Bush administration, which opposed mandatory cuts of greenhouse gas pollution. Last year, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona testified to Congress that top Bush administration officials often dismissed global warming as a "liberal cause" and sought to play down public health reports out of political considerations. Since 1993, summer Arctic sea ice has lost the equivalent of Alaska, California and Texas, and global warming is accelerating. The amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere has already pushed past the level some scientists say is safe."
As for the Obama environmental team; incoming officials for EPA, CEQ, Energy/Climate and the US Department of Interior are politically seasoned; time will tell.
No comments:
Post a Comment