Unless you’ve been living underground or have a vested interest in ignoring reality, you are well aware that climate change has resulted in dangerously high temperatures across the globe this summer. Two global climate organizations confirmed on Thursday that July is set to be the hottest month on record and the hottest monthlong period in 120,000 years. Currently, nearly 200 million people, or 60% of the U.S. population, are under extreme heat or flood advisories. However, as usual, Republican climate deniers are quick to dismiss the grave consequences.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), when asked about the heat, responded, “There is a very scientific word for this: It’s called summer. It’s no hotter right now than it’s ever been. I’ve been in this heat all my life in July and August as a football coach. This world’s not heating up, come on.” Despite his lack of scientific background, Tuberville confidently disregards the work of thousands of scientists worldwide. Last month, when the U.S. Northeast was covered in smoke from Canadian wildfires, Tuberville gave a similar response, stating, “We’ve had fires for all of our life, come on.”
We must not overlook the fact that humans have pushed the planet into uncharted territory. The U.S., Europe, and Asia have been plagued by devastating heat waves in recent weeks. The amount of sea ice surrounding Antarctica is at an all-time low, while sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic have reached record highs. In the Florida Keys, marine temperatures akin to hot tubs have caused widespread coral bleaching, prompting scientists to rescue hundreds of corals to prevent their demise.
During a speech about the extreme heat in the U.S., President Joe Biden acknowledged that the impacts of global climate change are undeniable. “I don’t know anybody who honestly believes climate change is not a serious problem,” he said. However, there are plenty of individuals who hold that belief.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) argued, “Only in Washington will they try to find an excuse to take something that’s been going on for hundreds of years… to promote their crazy left agenda.” He added, “Southern Louisiana, it’s always hot. Thank God for air conditioning.”
Last month, Senate Republicans heard from a fossil fuel advocate who argued that the benefits of fossil fuels outweigh the harms. Senators representing states reliant on oil and gas industries embraced his speech, carrying his signed book back to their offices. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) stated, “It’s hot for sure, but we also know that weather cycles… What we do know about them is they’ve been going on for a long time. How much we can impact them — that’s the question. I doubt we can.” Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) responded the same when asked if extreme heat is linked to climate change, saying, “I don’t think anybody knows.”
While some Republicans acknowledged that human activity may contribute to climate change, they argued that reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the West would be ineffective as long as big emitters like China fail to act. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) stated, “You can plausibly say that the increased amount of carbon in the atmosphere is trapping heat. All we’re talking about is how to reduce that. Whatever the U.S. does is going to be marginal as long as China continues to emit.”
On Capitol Hill, the GOP is pushing for an appropriations bill that would significantly reduce funding for federal environmental agencies, mandate additional oil and gas lease sales, weaken protections for wildlife, and repeal more than $9 billion provided by President Biden’s signature climate law.
Right-wing groups have developed a 920-page “battle plan” called Project 2025 to guide a future Republican administration in dismantling environmental regulations and hindering federal climate action.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party is attacking the Biden administration’s efforts to make home appliances, including air conditioners and dishwashers, more efficient. The federal effort has been labeled as Biden’s “war on appliances” by conservative media outlets. The GOP’s future vision includes increased production of fossil fuels, which would drive temperatures even higher, and reliance on inefficient air conditioners to escape the heat.
Democrats argue that the historic clean energy investments they passed last year are already making an impact in reducing emissions and creating new green energy jobs in red states. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) warned against ignoring the reality of the world and emphasized the importance of following facts. He stated, “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.”