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MCCAIN STATEMENT ON THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP
April 5, 2006
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today issued the following statement before the Global Climate Change and Impacts Subcommittee of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation:
"Thank you Mr. Chairman for calling today's hearing. I applaud your efforts to review the role of science in the Administration's Asia-Pacific Partnership. I know that the Administration has placed great emphasis on the future on this program. I think we all recognize that the solution to the climate change problem will involve the use of many new technologies. Though this partnership is part of the solution, it alone is not enough.
Mr. Chairman, the flow of scientific reports concerning the impacts of climate change has been continuous and voluminous. It highlights a number of critical concerns for people not only in the Arctic region, but for people around the globe.
As we look to the future, the need for effective adaptation strategies and technologies will become greater. It's not enough that we do scientific study after study. We must also prepare the country and the world for the onset of more severe and damaging impacts of climate change. Thus far, much of the attention has been on mitigation. Now, we must also start to look at adaptation - especially if we continue to fail in our effort to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Time magazine recently issued a special report on climate change. The report highlights the damage that rising global temperatures are inflicting on our planet. The damage ranges from increased droughts - much like the one we are experiencing in Arizona, to melting polar caps, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, increased forest fires and species migration. I recommend that my colleagues take the opportunity to review and consider the implications of the report.
The cover of the issue shows a polar bear as it tries to negotiate what was once solid ice. Because of the disappearing ice floats, many polar bears are drowning. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on February 8 that it has opened the formal process for listing polar bears as Athreatened@ under the Endangered Species Act because of this phenomenon.
The Time article reports that 85 percent of respondents to a recent Time/ABC News/Stanford University poll agree that global warming probably is happening and 87 percent believe the government should either encourage or require lowering of power plants emissions. In addition, 85 percent think something should be done to get cars to use less gasoline.
This is a huge public outcry for action from our government. Yet, the Administration continues to support a voluntary approach. This simply will not work, nor will it deliver the type of response needed to address this pending environmental catastrophe. I know the climate change discussions continue in the Senate. However, discussion alone will not get it done. We must have meaningful and effective action.
As these discussions continue, let me also remind my friends that climate change is an environmental problem with economic constraints, and not an economic problem with environmental constraints. The climate system will respond to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, but not to emission intensity ratios.
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