Al Franken schools Rick Perry on climate change

During a congressional hearing, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry again demonstrated his ignorance of basic climate science. When Senator Al Franken of Minnesota challenged Perry on his recent statements that carbon pollution is not the “primary driver of climate change,” Perry refused to acknowledge the scientific consensus that humans are causing climate change. Franken brought up a particular study funded by the Koch brothers, who have helped fuel much of the climate-denial movement. The study’s researchers, however, did not come to the conclusion the Kochs’ had hoped. Perry grew visibly flustered at the study’s mention.

Afterward, a group who knows a bit about climate science and shifting weather patterns—the American Meteorological Society—responded to Perry in an open letter stating, "It is clear from extensive scientific evidence that the dominant cause of the rapid change in climate in the past half century is human-induced increases in the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases…Without this fundamental understanding of the science, it is impossible to discuss potential policy changes in meaningful ways." In other words, Rick: You are the Secretary of the Energy Department. Get a clue.