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Trump's new Nasa chief Jim Bridenstine a 'climate change denier' who could make 'terrifying' decisions, US senators warn
(The Independent, 20 Apr 2018) As Tea Party congressman is appointed to head Nasa, senators warn of 'terrifying' danger that a man who has 'made a career out of ignoring science' might disregard scientific advice about the safety of a space launch.
The man chosen by Donald Trump to be the new head of Nasa is a “climate change denier” who has “made a career out of ignoring science” and might disregard scientific advice about the safety of launching astronauts into space, US senators have warned.
Giving Tea Party congressman James Bridenstine the final say on whether to launch a manned space mission would, it was claimed, be “terrifying”.
But Mr Bridenstine was still confirmed in the job this week in a vote that split 50-49 along party lines – in contrast to the unanimous senatorial approval granted to all 12 previous Nasa leaders.
The confirmation of Mr Trump’s nominee came despite Mr Bridenstine telling Congress in 2013 that “global temperatures stopped rising ten years ago. Global temperature changes – when they exist – correlate with sun output and ocean cycles”.
Not only did this statement rely on debunked claims of a global warming “hiatus”, it also flatly contradicted the first sentence of the Nasa website page explaining the causes of climate change: “Most climate scientists agree the main cause of the current global warming trend is human expansion of the ‘greenhouse effect’.”
During a November confirmation hearing Mr Bridenstine softened his position slightly to accept that global warming is still happening and “human activity absolutely is a contributor to the climate change that we are currently seeing.”
The Independent, 20 Apr 2018: Trump's new Nasa chief Jim Bridenstine a 'climate change denier' who could make 'terrifying' decisions, US senators warn
