Less than a calendar month into his new gig , it seems NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine has had quite a scrap of on - the - job training . On Thursday , he hold a Ithiel Town hall at the agency ’s Washington headquarters where he take questions from employees .
The first was about what the former Representative of Oklahoma think makes him qualified to be NASA ’s school principal . The second turn to one of his most controversial standpoints : climate modification .
In the past , controversial political posture – which include statements against gay marriage and whether humans are drive clime modification – have sparkeddebatesalong party rail line as to whether the former US Navy combatant original had the experience needed to fill the role . Now , he is singe a much different climate variety song .
“ I do n’t deny that consensus that the climate is alter , ” hesaid . “ In fact , I fully believe and know that the climate is change . I also do it that we humans organism are contributing to it in a major way . Carbon dioxide is a nursery gas . We ’re put it into the atmosphere in volumes that we have n’t catch , and that greenhouse gas is warming the planet . That is dead happening , and we are responsible for it . ”
He did n’t exactly say that humans are the independent driver of climate change , but saying they contribute “ in a major elbow room ” depict he at least admit the science backing climate change .
“ To what extent ? ” need Hawaii ’s popular Senator Brian Schatz .
“ That is a question I do not have an answer to , but I do know that humans have absolutely contributed to global heating , ” replied Bridenstine .
“ Are they the primary cause ? ” asked Schatz .
“ It ’s going to depend on a whole lot of broker , and we ’re still learning more about that every day , ” said Bridenstine . “ In some years , you could say absolutely . In other long time , during Dominicus cycles and other thing , there are other contributing factor that would have more of an impingement . ”
Bridenstine alsopointed outthat the way ’s new budget is grounds that future enquiry will not be hinder , continuing that science should follow nonpartisan guidelines put into place by the National Academy of Sciences to continue “ void and devoid ” of political influence .
This all hail just a day after Representative Mo Brookssaidsea levels are rise because rock are shine in the ocean .
[ H / T : The Atlantic ]
