NASA Administrator Michael Griffin Not Sure That Global Warming Is A
Problem
ON NPR NEWS MORNING EDITION TOMORROW, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2007
TRANSCRIBED EXCERPT BELOW; AUDIO AVAILABLE THURSDAY MORNING AT
WWW.NPR.ORG
May 30, 2007; Washington, DC - NASA Administrator Michael Griffin
tells NPR News that while he has no doubt "a trend of global warming
exists, I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we
must wrestle with."
In an interview with Steve Inskeep airing tomorrow on NPR News'
Morning Edition, Administrator Griffin says "I guess I would ask which
human beings - where and when - are to be accorded the privilege of
deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today,
right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think
that's a rather arrogant position for people to take."
Transcribed excerpts of the interview are below. All excerpts must be
credited to NPR News' Morning Edition. The interview airs tomorrow
morning, Thursday, May 31. Local station's air time of the program is
available at www.npr.org/stations. Audio of the interview will be
available at www.npr.org. Television usage must include on-screen
credit with NPR logo.
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Contact: Leah Yoon 202.513.2306 /
STEVE INSKEEP: One thing that's been mentioned that NASA is perhaps
not spending as much money as it could on is studying climate change,
global warming, from space. Are you concerned about global warming?
MICHAEL GRIFFIN: I am aware that global warming -- I'm aware that
global warming exists. I understand that the bulk of scientific
evidence accumulated supports the claim that we've had about a one
degree centigrade rise in temperature over the last century to within
an accuracy of 20 percent. I'm also aware of recent findings that
appear to have nailed down -- pretty well nailed down the conclusion
that much of that is manmade. Whether that is a long term concern or
not, I can't say.
MR. INSKEEP : And I just wanted to make sure that I'm clear. Do you
have any doubt that this is a problem that mankind has to wrestle
with?
MR. GRIFFIN: I have no doubt that global -- that a trend of global
warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a
problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to
assume that the state of earth's climate today is the optimal climate,
the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need
to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change. First of all, I
don't think it's within the power of human beings to assure that the
climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown,
and second of all, I guess I would ask which human beings - where and
when - are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this
particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the
best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather
arrogant position for people to take.
MR. INSKEEP : Is that thinking that informs you as you put together
the budget? That something is happening, that it's worth studying, but
you're not sure that you want to be battling it as an army might
battle an enemy.
MR. GRIFFIN: Nowhere in NASA's authorization, which of course governs
what we do, is there anything at all telling us that we should take
actions to affect climate change in either one way or another. We
study global climate change, that is in our authorization, we think we
do it rather well. I'm proud of that, but NASA is not an agency
chartered to quote "battle climate change."
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
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