Twenty-six Florida scientists want to have a chat with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump about climate change.
Trump is one of the most prominent climate change skeptics in American politics, having expressed in the past that global warming is a “hoax” created by the Chinese. But scientists in Florida, which studies have shown may be one of the most at-risk places in the United States when it comes to climate change, want to try and change his mind, Politico reports.
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A letter obtained by Politico and delivered to the Florida Republican Party tells Trump outright that climate change is not a hoax.
“We cannot sit and be quiet. When asked about climate change, you have said, ‘I’m not a big believer in manmade climate change. There could be some impact, but I don’t believe it’s a devastating impact,'” the letter said.
“It is crucial for policymakers to have a full understanding of the current and future threats of climate change. A part of doing business is evaluating risk. Instead of ignoring this threat, we invite you to confront it head on and make sure that America ‘wins’ on clean energy.”
Politico reported the some of same scientists spoke with Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott about his climate change beliefs in 2014. It’s unclear if they got their message across; a directive from Scott’s Department of Environmental Protection prohibits employees from discussing climate change, according to the report.
Trump has fully taken up the mantle of the fossil fuel industry during his presidential campaign, promising to “unleash” American energy.
Among the proposals he’s floated are opening up fossil fuel production on all federal land, getting coal miners back to work and promoting the production of natural gas. Increased natural gas production has caused gas prices to plummet in recent years, crippling the coal industry by decreasing demand.
Trump has promised to repeal signature Obama administration environmental regulations like the Clean Power Plan and the Waters of the United States rule. He’s also said he would take the United States out of the Paris Agreement, the world’s first agreement on climate change.
