Your tax dollars hard at work in Congress

[Gan]

Select Committee to Examine Link Between Changing Climate, Frequency and Intensity of Wildfires on Thursday


MEDIA ADVISORY FOR 10 AM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2007

Contact: Select Committee, 202-225-4012

A Spark Neglected: Wildfires and Global Warming

Select Committee to Examine Link Between Changing Climate, Frequency and Intensity of Wildfires


“A spark neglected makes a mighty fire.”
--Robert Herrick

Following the devastating fires in Southern California, the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hold a hearing examining the scientific link between a changing climate and the frequency and intensity of wildfires.

Witnesses will discuss the present effects of climate change on wildfires and contributing factors such as increased drought, changes in snowmelt patterns, changes in precipitation, and higher temperatures. In addition, mitigation and adaptation strategies will be discussed.

The frequency and intensity of wildfires have increased in recent decades throughout the Western United States. Last year, the Forest Service spent a record $2.5 billion fighting wildfires that burned a record 9.9 million acres (4 million hectares), compared to the ten-year average of 6 million acres. This year 8.7 million acres have burned thus far. The current fires burning in California are expected to cause over $1 billion in property damage alone and have already burned an area the size of Rhode Island. Mounting scientific evidence indicates that the growth in wildfires is linked to global warming and that this trend is likely to intensify in the coming decades.

WHAT: Select Committee Hearing, "Wildfires and the Climate Crisis"

WHEN: Thursday, November 1st, 2007, 10 AM

WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC
Or on the web at globalwarming.house.gov

WHO:

Abigail Kimbell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service
Dr. Steven Running, Professor of Ecology, University of Montana
Michael Francis, Director of Forest Program and Deputy Vice President, Wilderness Society
Dr. Michael Medler, Member of Firefighters United for Safety Ethics and Ecology, Assistant Professor at Huxley College# # #
_____________________________________________

The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming was formed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to increase the visibility and priority given to America's oil dependence and global warming challenges. It is chaired by Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and will actively explore the solutions, science and progress on these pressing issues during the 110th Congress.

http://globalwarming.house.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases?id=0112

__________________________________________________ ___________

:banghead:

[Goretawn]

Since this last one was started by a kid playing with matches, are they going to save our money and cancel the study?

[Tsa`ah]

Doubtful. This study, I'm sorry to say, has more merit than probably thousands that came before it.

Not that it has much merit.

[Kembal]

The question is more whether climate change causes conditions that are more subsceptible to wildfires. Kid playing with matches doesn't cause a fire if the ground is wet, for example.

Since there is an increasing trend on the amount of acres burned by wildfires, factors that could cause the increase should be examined. Climate change has been identified as one possible factor. There could be others. And how you adapt to and mitigate the problem can only be effectively done by knowing what the underlying causes are.

[Tsa`ah]

I don't believe anyone is denying that.

It's the validity of a legislative committee. If you want a study performed, let the universities bid on it. Don't hand a blank check over to a group of people and say "get back to us".

Let's not get into the issue of our government doing anything about it once the study is concluded.

[Kembal]

In that sense, congressional testimony on this stuff doesn't actually create anything worthwhile in terms of research. All it does is put a spotlight on current thinking.

If the government is to do something about it, an executive agency would have to produce the study, or contract out the study to a university. All congressional testimony can do is give a nudge on that.

Sometimes, though, that nudge is necessary. Be interesting to find out if that's the case here.

[Parkbandit]

Man.. I thought they were blaming far too much on global warming.. but now it causes your kids to play with matches?

[Warriorbird]

Global warming is in your house...making your children liberal.

[Tsa`ah]

In that sense, congressional testimony on this stuff doesn't actually create anything worthwhile in terms of research. All it does is put a spotlight on current thinking.

If the government is to do something about it, an executive agency would have to produce the study, or contract out the study to a university. All congressional testimony can do is give a nudge on that.

Sometimes, though, that nudge is necessary. Be interesting to find out if that's the case here.

eh ...


If you want a study performed, let the universities bid on it. Don't hand a blank check over to a group of people and say "get back to us".

[Parkbandit]

Global warming is in your house...making your children liberal.

I KNEW IT!

Fuck.. I need to put on Fox News and reverse this brainwashing!!