On the recordMarch 10, 2014
The Senator has it. But before I get to my Senate colleague from Rhode Island, allow me for a moment to answer the question of my colleague because I am grateful that he asked me about what is happening in New Jersey. We know this, that no storm, no flood, no drought, was caused singularly--no single episode could be said to be caused by climate change. That would be irresponsible and give an opening for those people who choose to criticize those who talk about climate change, give an opening to pounce on that. But we do know, when these extreme weather events happen--and I believe they are happening more frequently because of climate change-- what we know factually is that when these extreme weather events happen, they become more extreme because of indisputable climate change that is happening. Forest fires, as the Senator said, become more extreme because of a warming climate. We know in New Jersey, and we have seen painfully from Hurricane Sandy, that when flooding happens it is more extreme and more severe because of rising sea water. We know in New Jersey that the storm had painful effects. Let me put it in numbers, and then I want to talk about people. The numbers that affect people so dramatically are powerful. I am going to read some of them. This is a Rutgers University report that rising sea levels, as I mentioned before, mean hurricanes will produce more severe damage such as the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, more frequent extreme weather events, heat waves.…
