Screenshot / CNN
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a new Trump puppet at the helm! David Legates, a University of Delaware professor of climatology, has been given the position of deputy assistant secretary of commerce.
So more of this then? #ScienceMatters #TruthMatters pic.twitter.com/JUKQ5uxpF9
— Rep. Laura Sibilia (@LauraSibiliaVT) September 15, 2020
NPR writes that “Legates has a long history of using his position as an academic scientist to publicly cast doubt on climate science.” Studies written by Legates have been partially funded by the Koch brothers and ExxonMobil. Legates also argued in 2014 that the sun was the cause of global warming.
Meanwhile, NOAA released statements that said 2020 was the hottest summer on record and was very likely to rank as one of the hottest years on record. But that’s all just the sun, according to Legates. Not human activity.
More sharpiegate to come! I pity any state that has a weather related catastrophe!
— SueGC (@suecow13) September 15, 2020
California is literally burning alive, with three of the biggest fires in the state’s history. 3.2 million acres have burned in the last three weeks. Trump of course has blamed all the fires on “poor forest management.” He also threatened to withhold emergency funds from the state.
Jane Lubchenco, a former NOAA administrator under the Obama administration, said about Legates, “The juxtaposition of the apocalyptic wildfires and the announcement of David Legates’ appointment is mind-boggling. Just at the time when we need continued truth from the nation’s lead climate agency, a climate denier is hired. This is a travesty.”
— Will J (@KnightsofBlue) September 15, 2020
In other climate news, a massive chunk of Greenland’s icecap also broke off this week. The ice was the size of the state of Ohio.
