Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Hill reported that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke dismissed the recently released multi-agency National Climate Assessment that details the catastrophic impacts of climate change on our economy, health, and way of life. Zinke accused the assessment’s authors of using only worst-case scenarios, despite confirmation from one of the authors of the assessment that “it considers ALL scenarios, from those where we go carbon negative before end of century to those where carbon emissions continue to rise.”
On Friday, Zinke’s own agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior released an additional report detailing that oil and gas drilling significantly contributes to climate disruption.
Zinke is currently in California, where he is downplaying the role climate disruption played in the massive wildfires that displaced 50,000 people from their homes.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"The National Climate Assessment, put together by scientists and experts from 13 government agencies, makes it clear we need to act on climate now. Zinke should know more than anyone after surveying the damages from the California wildfires just how much climate disruption is already costing our communities. Rather than pushing to sell off our public lands to corporate polluters, Zinke should be protecting our public lands and our climate. As much as he likes to pretend otherwise, Zinke isn’t a geologist and he isn’t a climate scientist -- but he should listen to those who are.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.