NASA Chief Says Global Warming Is Nothing to Worry About

The global warming debate was turned up a notch last Friday, June 1, when NASA chief Michael Griffin issued a statement saying he was unsure if global warming was an issue to be "wrestled with" at this time.

This bold statement on the issue of global warming is so counter to conventional wisdom because most scientists feel global warming is one of the top issues facing people around the world.

Mr. Griffin has come under fire from Congress in the past because Mr. Griffin has cut funding for programs designed to monitor global climate change. However, in a radio interview on Thursday, Mr. Griffin said he had no doubt there is a trend indicating global warming exists."

But, he told National Public Radio, "I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with."

James Hansen, NASA's top expert on climate change, was totally caught off-guard by this statement because he said he almost 'fell out of this chair' when hearing about Griffin's remarks.

"It was a shocking statement because of the level of ignorance it indicated with regard to the current situation," Hansen told NPR.

Mr. Hansen went on to say Mr. Griffin must not be aware that over 170 countries have all ready agreed that global warming and climate change is a serious issue with worldwide repercussions if this issue is not addressed as soon as possible.

In a statement released later in the day, Mr. Griffin did say it is NASA's responsibility to collect, analyze and then release reports on climate change, but it is not NASA's responsibility to implement policies regarding strategies to combat climate change and global warming.

The Democrats wasted no time in taking pot shots at Mr. Griffin.

Bart Gordon, D-TN, heads the House Science and Technology committee, and he issued a statement saying that based on NASA's five year budget plan NASA will not be able to start any new Earth observation programs that were recommended by the National Academies for the foreseeable future.

"That's not going to get us where we need to be in our understanding of climate change."

The League of Conservation Voters is a national pro-environment group that is calling for Mr. Griffin to resign over his outlandish statements.

Griffin's comments are "deeply troubling," said Gene Karpinski, the group's president.

Mr. Karpinski also said global warming is real and humans are contributing to this problem. Mr. Karpinski said it is not 'rocket science' when it comes to taking action in regards to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. Griffin's comments seemed to go against comments made by President Bush on the same day.

On Friday, President Bush was calling for the major industrialized countries to come together in developing a new global warming pact that will replace the Kyoto Pact that is set to expire in 2012.

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