by Katy Grimes
As Appearing in the California Globe

They weren’t using ‘science’ for climate change decisions?

“Assemblywoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) introduced legislation that would ensure the state’s actions and investment on climate change adaption is science-based,” reads a press statement from Friedman. “The measure, Assembly Bill 2371, creates an advisory team of distinguished scientists that would make recommendations on California’s climate adaption plans and investments.”

“California is a world leader on climate change,” said Friedman. “It is critical that our decisions are rooted in science and that we invest wisely in transformative projects that will protect our citizens and our ecosystems from the future impacts of climate change.”

“There’s a time and place for all good ideas.  This one’s time, if it was ever, was 2006, when AB32 was first passed…California could have used some real science back then,” said Tom Tanton, Director of Science and Technology for the Energy and Environment Legal Institute. “But today, the ship for real science has long ago sailed.  Global warming, errr climate change, has become so politicized there’s no room for actual science or dissenting view…

“This bill will just lead inevitably to worsening cronyism,” Tanton said. “A panel of ‘scientists’ charged with doling out billions of taxpayer funds?  Maybe they’ll make a movie starring Timothy Bottoms and John Houseman. Better yet, why not pool California’s taxpayer money with national efforts at DOE/EPA to increase leverage.  That’d improve ‘bang for the buck’ but limit the ability to fund pet projects and politicians’ friends. Or even better still, return the money to the taxpayers, and encourage researchers to actually develop real, rather than political, solutions unfettered by ‘government grants.’ Private researchers and technology development is doing twice as good as state mandates and subsidies in reducing greenhouse gasses and government funding is perhaps the least efficient and least effective type of R&D.  Let’s spend our money where it might do some good.”

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