Murray, Cantwell join in Senate resolution on climate

Joining 23 of their peers, Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced a resolution Wednesday to recognize and accept the findings detailed in the National Climate Assessment.

The assessment was released last week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and concluded the U.S. will suffer thousands of deaths, $500 million annually in crop damage and damage caused by extreme weather by 2100 due to climate change.

“The impacts of climate change are real and are already being felt in communities across the country,” Cantwell said in a press release. “Extreme weather events are growing more frequent, putting our homes and livelihoods at risk. Our regional economies that depend on agriculture, tourism, and fisheries are all vulnerable.”

The resolution states the Senate believes reducing greenhouse gas emissions would help avoid devastating climate change impacts. It argues that immediate action is needed by Congress and the president to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 45 percent below 2010 levels by 2030 and to 100 percent below 2010 levels by 2050.

President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that he didn’t believe the report.

“President Trump may refuse to accept the devastating reality of climate change, but it can’t stop the rest of us from shining a bright spotlight on the facts and continuing to fight for action,” Murray said in a press release.

“For us in the Pacific Northwest, this is personal,” Murray said. “Climate change is already starting to wreak havoc on our environment and our economy, from longer, more devastating wildfires and smoke-filled skies, to diminishing salmon runs, ocean acidification, and changing growing seasons.

“While it’s extremely frustrating that President Trump and his allies twist and dismiss the facts in order to suit their agenda, the rest of us who believe in science and share concern for future generations must continue sounding the alarm and pushing for meaningful efforts to combat climate change,” she said.