Byron Dorgan: “In terms of the issue of global warming, first let me say that there is little question left that something significant…”

“In terms of the issue of global warming, first let me say that there is little question left that something significant is happening to our planet. There is something happening to our climate that sometimes we don't quite understand. But among almost all scientists, there is nearly universal consensus that in the last 100 years, the temperature of the Earth has slightly warmed by 1.1 to 1.6 degrees. Through 2050, we expect further temperature increases unless we begin to address the continued concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We are seeing evidence of these impacts. While no specific event is directly linked, we see droughts occurring more often, and this is certainly happening in my State of North Dakota. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more damaging. Further, the number of category 4 and 5 hurricanes has nearly doubled in the past 50 years. It is quite clear something is happening that we have not seen before. I think the consensus of scientists now is at a point regarding this climate change that is beyond natural change, and we certainly ought to take some no-regret steps.”