Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is an
outspoken denier of climate science, with a voting record to match. A
favorite of the Koch
brothers,
Ryan has accused scientists of engaging in conspiracy to “intentionally
mislead the public on the issue of climate change.” He has implied that
snow invalidates global warming. He has voted to
prevent
the Environmental Protection Agency from limiting greenhouse pollution,
to eliminate White House
climate advisers, to
block
the U.S. Department of Agriculture from preparing for climate disasters
like the drought devastating his home
state,
and to eliminate the
Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E):
Paul Ryan Promoted Unfounded Conspiracy Theories About Climate
Scientists. In a December 2009 op-ed during international climate
talks, Ryan made reference to the hacked University of East Anglia
Climatic Research Unit emails. He accused climatologists of a
“perversion of the scientific method, where data were manipulated to
support a predetermined conclusion,” in order to “intentionally
mislead the public on the issue of climate change.” Because of
spurious claims of conspiracy like these, several governmental and
academic inquiries were launched, all of which found the accusations
to be without merit. [Paul Ryan,
2/11/09]
Paul Ryan Argued Snow Invalidates Global Warming Policy. In the
same December 2009 op-ed, Ryan argued, “Unilateral economic restraint
in the name of fighting global warming has been a tough sell in our
communities, where much of the state is buried under snow.” [Paul
Ryan,
2/11/09]
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate EPA Limits On Greenhouse Pollution.
Ryan voted in favor of H.R. 910, introduced in 2011 by Rep. Fred Upton
(R-MI) to block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from
regulating greenhouse gas pollution. [Roll Call 249,
4/7/11]
Paul Ryan Voted To Block The USDA From Preparing For Climate
Change. In 2011, Ryan voted in favor of the Scalise (R-LA) Amendment
to the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill,
to bar the U.S. Department of Agriculture from implementing its
Climate Protection Plan. [Roll Call 448,
6/16/11]
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate White House Climate Advisers. Ryan
voted in favor of Scalise (R-LA) Amendment 204 to the 2011 Continuing
Resolution, to eliminate the assistant to the president for energy and
climate change, the special envoy for climate change (Todd Stern), and
the special adviser for green jobs, enterprise and innovation. [Roll
Call 87, 2/17/11]
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate ARPA-E. Ryan voted in favor of
Biggert (R-IL) Amendment 192 to the 2011 Continuing Resolution, to
eliminate the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency
(ARPA-E). [Roll Call 55,
2/17/11]
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate Light Bulb Efficiency Standards. In
2011, Ryan voted to roll back light-bulb efficiency standards that had
reinvigorated the domestic lighting industry and that significantly
reduce energy waste and carbon pollution. [Roll Call 563,
7/12/11]
Paul Ryan Voted For Keystone XL. In 2011, Ryan voted to expedite
the consideration and approval of the construction and operation of
the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. [Roll Call 650,
7/26/11]
Paul Ryan Budget Kept Big Oil Subsidies And Slashed Clean Energy
Investment. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI)
proposed FY 2013 budget resolution retained
a decade’s worth of oil tax breaks worth $40 billion, while slashing
funding for investments in clean energy research, development,
deployment, and commercialization, along with other energy programs.
The plan called for a $3 billion cut in energy programs in
FY 2013 alone. [CAP,
3/20/12]
Paul Ryan’s record of support for the fossil fuel industry is one of
denial of the scientific consensus that climate change is a fundamental
risk to human civilization.
