The Republican answer to climate change is to do nothing according to Republicans like House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). He made it clear over the weekend while being interviewed on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that he is ignorant of issues pertaining to climate change. The reality is that we elect our officials to office expecting them to make policy decisions objectively in order to remedy the country’s issues, but we shouldn’t be electing people like Boehner to public office, because he obviously hasn’t even attempted to do his homework or basic research in order to understand anthropogenic climate change.

John Boehner’s assertion that carbon dioxide is not a problem, since cows and humans exhale the gas, is wrong. The problem is the release of trapped carbon into the atmosphere, which is resulting in anthropogenic global warming; so extracting, converting, and pumping millions of tons of hydrocarbons (coal, crude oil, natural gas, etc.) into the atmosphere yearly, is impacting the Earth and its climate. The problem with climate change—unlike polluting waterways or the air—is that it’s not readily observable, so it’s easily politicized.

To further illustrate the issue, contrast the burning of hydrocarbons like coal, petroleum, and natural gases with biomass, “because plants use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to grow (photosynthesis), the carbon dioxide formed during combustion is balanced by that absorbed during the annual growth of the plants used as the biomass feedstock—unlike burning fossil fuels which releases carbon dioxide captured billions of years ago.” Biomass is an attractive alternative for some because it doesn’t add additional CO₂ like fossil fuels do (although this depends on the type of feedstock burned and how the feedstock is produced).

According to Politico, Senator John Boehner’s spokesperson Antonia Ferrier attempted to clarify his position: “The point he was trying to make, Ferrier said, is that ‘when you’re talking about labeling a naturally occurring gas like carbon dioxide a pollutant, there are going to be some real-world ramifications for doing that.’” Again, Boehner fails to grasp the issue.

Here is the video of George Stephanopoulos interviewing House Minority Leader John Boehner:

Transcript of House Republican Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”:

STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me ask you then about energy. We showed your statement on the president’s decision through the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases. Also, you’ve come out against the president’s proposal to cap-and-trade carbon emissions.

So what is the Republican answer to climate change? Is it a problem? Do you have a plan to address it?

BOEHNER: George, we believe that our — all of the above energy strategy from last year continues to be the right approach on energy. That we ought to make sure that we have new sources of energy, green energy, but we need nuclear energy, we need other types of alternatives, and, yes, we need American-made oil and gas.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But that doesn’t do anything when it comes to emissions, sir.

BOEHNER: When it comes to the issue of climate change, George, it’s pretty clear that if we don’t work with other industrialized nations around the world, what’s going to happen is that we’re going to ship millions of American jobs overseas. We have to deal with this in a responsible way.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So what is the responsible way? That’s my question. What is the Republican plan to deal with carbon emissions, which every major scientific organization has said is contributing to climate change?

BOEHNER: George, the idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen that is harmful to our environment is almost comical. Every time we exhale, we exhale carbon dioxide. Every cow in the world, you know, when they do what they do, you’ve got more carbon dioxide. And so I think it’s clear…

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you don’t believe that greenhouse gases are a problem in creating climate change?

BOEHNER: … we’ve had climate change over the last 100 years — listen, it’s clear we’ve had change in our climate. The question is how much does man have to do with it, and what is the proper way to deal with this? We can’t do it alone as one nation. If we got India, China and other industrialized countries not working with us, all we’re going to do is ship millions of American jobs overseas.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But it sounds like from what you’re saying that you don’t believe that Republicans need to come up with a plan to control carbon emissions? You’re suggesting it’s not that big of a problem, even though the scientific consensus is that it has contributed to the climate change.

BOEHNER: I think it is — I think it is an issue. The question is, what is the proper answer and the responsible answer?

STEPHANOPOULOS: And what is the answer? That’s what I’m trying to get at.

BOEHNER: George, I think everyone in America is looking for the proper answer. We don’t want to raise taxes, $1.5 to $2 trillion like the administration is proposing, and we don’t want to ship millions of American jobs overseas. And so we’ve got to find ways to work toward this solution to this problem without risking the future for our kids and grandkids.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you are committed to coming up with a plan?

BOEHNER: I think you’ll see a plan from us. Just like you’ve seen a plan from us on the stimulus bill and a better plan on the budget.

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