WASHINGTON (March 10, 2014)—At least 28 U.S. senators will speak through the night about climate change, a sign that despite gridlock in Congress, the issue remains salient, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
“Whether it’s passing legislation to help communities cope with drought or debating the future of coastal flood insurance, Congress is often dealing with the effects of climate change, even if some members dare not say the words,” said Angela Anderson, the director of UCS’s Climate and Energy Program. “What we need is a much bigger national debate about how we can respond to the risks scientists have uncovered about climate change and how we can reduce emissions to avoid the worst impacts. These senators should be commended for calling attention to these issues in such a high-profile way.”
Melanie Fitzpatrick, a UCS climate scientist, has a blog post listing facts about climate change that “keep her up at night.” They include the unprecedented rate of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, ocean acidification, and an entire generation being born into a climate that bears less and less resemblance to one we grew up in. She writes that these facts are, “a reminder to all of us why this is an extremely important conversation not only for the United States, but for the world.”