More than a hundred world leaders converged on Paris this week to take part in hugely anticipated climate talks. The accord they reach could help the planet avert a growing list of climate-related catastrophes (hey there, sea level rise).
Scientists are in near universal agreement that the climate is changing, that it's largely humanity's fault and there is "no plan B" should we fail to act. But you'd never know that if you just listened to some of the Republican presidential contenders.
Here are some of the most outrageous things the 10 leading candidates for the GOP nomination have said about climate change. Many of these statements are patently false: A single volcano does not emit more greenhouse gases than all of humanity; weather is not the same thing as the climate; and a single nation like America -- the second-largest carbon emitter on the planet -- can certainly make a difference.
Brace yourselves.
Donald "It's Cold Outside" Trump
- "It’s snowing & freezing in NYC. What the hell ever happened to global warming?" -- March 2013
- “I believe in clean air. Immaculate air. But I don't believe in climate change." -- Sept. 2015
- "It's really cold outside, they are calling it a major freeze, weeks ahead of normal. Man, we could use a big fat dose of global warming!" -- October 2015
Ben "This Always Happens" Carson
- “There’s always going to be either cooling or warming going on. As far as I’m concerned, that’s irrelevant. What is relevant is that we have an obligation and a responsibility to protect our environment." -- November 2014
- "Of course there's climate change. Any point in time, temperatures are going up or temperatures are going down. Of course that's happening. When that stops happening, that's when we're in big trouble." -- September 2015
Marco "Oh, But The Jobs" Rubio
- “We are not going to destroy our economy, make America a harder place to create jobs, in order to pursue a policy that will do nothing, nothing to change our climate, to change our weather." -- September 2015
- "America is not a planet." -- September 2015
Ted "You Climate Blasphemers, You" Cruz
- “If you look at satellite data for the last 18 years, there’s been zero recorded warming. The satellite says it ain’t happening.” -- August 2015
- “Climate change is not science. It's religion." -- October 2015
Jeb "Well Maybe, But I'm A Republican" Bush
- "The climate is changing, whether men are doing it or not." -- June 2015
- “I don't think it's the highest priority. I don’t think we should ignore it, either." -- August 2015
Carly "I Worked With Scientists And They're All Wrong" Fiorina
- "I believe if you're going to go to science, you need to read the fine print. And here's what the scientists say: A single nation acting alone can make no difference at all." -- September 2015
- “The only answer to this problem, according to the scientist, is a three-decade global effort, coordinated and costing coordinated effort. It's impossible, are you kidding? A three-decade effort, costing trillions of dollars, coordinated with current technology? It’ll never happen.” -- September 2015
Mike "Um, Kaboom" Huckabee
- "Science is not as settled on that as it is on some things.” -- June 2015
- "A volcano in one blast will contribute more than a hundred years of human activity." -- August 2015
Chris "Sure, But Nah" Christie
- "I think global warming is real. I don't think that's deniable. And I do think human activity contributes to it."* -- May 2015
- *But Christie has adamantly opposed New Jersey joining into a multi-state greenhouse gas initiative, calling it "a completely useless plan.” -- September 2014
John "It's Your Kids' Problem" Kasich
- “We don’t want to destroy people’s jobs, based on some theory that is not proven.” -- August 2015
- "Do I believe there is something called climate change? I do. Do I think that human beings affect it? I do. How much? Not enough for me to go out and cost somebody their job." -- October 2015
Rand "Doesn't Really Know" Paul
- "Not conclusive." -- April 2014
- "Not sure anybody exactly knows why." -- April 2014
- "Alarmist." -- April 2014
- "I don't want to shut down all forms of energy such that thousands and thousands of people lose jobs.” -- April 2015
- What You Need To Know About The Paris Climate Summit
- After Years Of Lukewarm Climate Talks, Paris Cranks Up The Heat
- How To Talk To A Climate Change Denier
- Watch How Rising Sea Levels Could Swallow Coastal Cities
- Why Some Conservatives Still Won't Accept Climate Change Is Real
- The Devastating Consequences Of A 'Small' Rise In Global Temperatures
- Mayors Take On Crucial Roles Fighting Climate Change
- Why This Goal To Curb Climate Change 'Is Not Ideal'
- How Tech Is Pulling Ahead Of Politics In The Fight For Our Future
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