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Global warming debate spurs
Ore. title tiff
VINCE PATTON
kgw.com
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
In the face of evidence agreed upon by hundreds of climate scientists,
George Taylor holds firm. He does not believe human activities are
the main cause of global climate change.
Taylor also holds a unique title: State Climatologist.
Hundreds of scientists last Friday issued the strongest warning
yet on global warming saying humans are "very likely"
the cause.
“Most of the climate changes we have seen up until now have
been a result of natural variations,” Taylor asserts.
Taylor has held the title of "state climatologist" since
1991 when the legislature created a state climate office at OSU
The university created the job title, not the state.
His opinions conflict not only with many other scientists, but with
the state of Oregon's policies.
So the governor wants to take that title from Taylor and make it
a position that he would appoint.
In an exclusive interview with KGW-TV, Governor Ted Kulongoski
confirmed he wants to take that title from Taylor. The governor
said Taylor's contradictions interfere with the state's stated goals
to reduce greenhouse gases, the accepted cause of global warming
in the eyes of a vast majority of scientists.
“He is Oregon State University's climatologist. He is not
the state of Oregon's climatologist,” Kulongoski said.
Taylor declined to comment on the proposal other than to say he
was a "bit shocked" by the news. He recently engaged in
a debate at O.M.S.I. and repeated his doubts about accepted science.
In an interview he told KGW, "There are a lot of people saying
the bulk of the warming of the last 50 years is due to human activities
and I don't believe that's true." He believes natural cycles
explain most of the changes the earth has seen.
A bill will be introduced in Salem soon on the matter.
Sen. Brad Avakian, (D) Washington County, is sponsoring the bill.
He said global warming is so important to state policy it's important
to have a climatologist as a consultant to the governor. He denied
this is targeted personally at Taylor. "Absolutely not,"
Avakian said, "I've never met Mr. Taylor and if he's got opinions
I hope he comes to the hearing and testifies."
Kulongoski said the state needs a consistent message on reducing
greenhouse gases to combat climate change.
The Governor says, "I just think there has to be somebody
that says, 'this is the state position on this.'"
INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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