Global Warming

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With all of the alarmism these days about global warming, what concerns me the most are the efforts underway here in Washington DC to impose measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions would lower the quality of life and reduce economic well-being for future generations. These attempts come at a time when a growing number of international scientists are now on the record expressing dissent regarding the so-called “consensus” that mankind has created a “climate crisis.” A Senate report recently released from my EPW committee detailed over 400 prominent scientists who have recently dissented from the alarmist climate view.”

Nevertheless, in December 2007, the EPW Committee passed legislation – called the Lieberman-Warner America's Climate Security Act – that would set a cap on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted in the United States. Those who champion a “cap and trade” approach fail to realize the dire economic consequences from imposing such a program. We are living in a time where energy demand is constantly growing while supply remains flat, and as a consequence, prices are rising rapidly. If this bill were to be adopted, conservative estimates indicate that electricity prices alone would rise between 35 and 65 percent, and 1.2 to 2.3 million jobs would be lost by 2015.

Another problem associated with imposing such climate legislation on the American people, in addition to higher prices and lost jobs, is that it would do nothing to reduce global concentrations of greenhouse gases. China has already passed the United States as the leading GHG emitter and continues to build a new coal plant every three days. India is not far behind them. Without equivalent efforts to limit these gases among China and India, the United States stands to lose many hundreds of thousands of jobs to these countries, which will profit from unilateral action by the United States. In short, unilateral action would result in increased emissions globally, not decreased, because efficient manufacturing in our country would be exported to less efficient countries, thus increasing carbon emissions.

Even if global warming was a result of anthropogenic (man-made) gases, which has been challenged by many international scientists, recent attempts to curb greenhouse gases would fail miserably to accomplish anything. Studies have found that if the Kyoto treaty was fully implemented the amount of averted global warming by the year 2050 would be 0.07° C.

My job as a United States Senator from Oklahoma is to represent the interests of American workers and families, and most importantly those workers and families of Oklahoma. Aside from losing American jobs to other countries, American families would suffer under a cap-and-trade system. An economist from the respected Charles Rivers Associates International recently stated that welfare losses alone would be $4 trillion to $6 trillion dollars over the next few decades under a cap-and-trade system. From rising electricity prices, to decreased purchasing power, and a loss of millions of jobs, the average American cannot withstand the burden of such a program

While the science of climate change is unsettled, the economics of enacting climate legislation is not. I can state with certainty that the economic consequences stemming from such a law would be devastating to the American people. I want only the best for the jobs and families in Oklahoma and in all of America. Passing legislation purely for symbolism will hinder that effort. I will not sacrifice our way of life for a climate plan that neither can, nor is designed to, work.

READ MORE: SENATOR INHOFE OP-ED'S

Climate Bill Will Devastate American Families and Jobs (Human Events, December 10, 2007)

Look Closer at Global Warming "Solutions" (Roll Call, December 3, 2007)

Global Warming "Consensus" Continues To Melt Away (Power Magazine, August 31, 2007)