Ranking Member Johnson Statement on the 30th Anniversary of Dr. James Hansen’s Testimony Before Congress

 Today marks the 30th anniversary of former NASA climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen’s, testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In his testimony, Dr. Hansen indicated that the effects of greenhouse gases are significant enough to increase the probability of future extreme weather events, as well as an increase in average warming.

Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement.

“It is fitting that on this first weekend of summer, we recall the 30th anniversary of Dr. Hansen’s warning to Congress of increasing temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions saying, ‘It is time to stop waffling so much and say that the evidence is pretty strong that the greenhouse effect is here.’

“Over the past three decades, his warning proved prescient. I am disappointed that after thirty years and the ever-growing cumulative evidence to support Dr. Hansen’s simulations, many Members of Congress still do not believe that human activities are causing climate change and that we must act to mitigate the effects. We need to be taking steps forward to address this issue, not remaining stagnant or reversing polices that aim to tackle one of the greatest global challenges of our generation.”