Climate scientist to US Senate: 'Climate change is a clear and present danger'

Last Thursday, the US Senate committee on environment & public works held a four-hour hearing to review President Obama's Climate Action Plan. The hearing began with statements from the committee members, and then proceeded with two expert panels. The first was comprised of administrators of government agencies that are key to implementing President Obama's Climate Action Plan, like EPA administrator Gina McCarthy. The second panel was comprised of climate science and policy experts. Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist from Texas A&M University, was one of the expert climate science witnesses invited to testify. In his testimony, Dessler simply and clearly articulated what we know about climate change, and why he personally views it as "a clear and present danger." Dessler's main points were: