TRENTON — Three Rutgers University scientists came to Trenton today to give Gov. Chris Christie a message: climate change is real, and it's man-made. The Statehouse forum, sponsored by several environmental groups, was held in response to Christie's recent comments at a Toms River town hall that he is skeptical that global warming results from human activity. "I've heard...
NJ. Gov. Chris Christie at a town hall meeting on December 3rd.TRENTON — Three Rutgers University scientists came to Trenton today to give Gov. Chris Christie a message: climate change is real, and it's man-made.
The Statehouse forum, sponsored by several environmental groups, was held in response to Christie's recent comments at a Toms River town hall that he is skeptical that global warming results from human activity.
"I've heard over 100 different arguments about why we shouldn’t accept global warming. They're all fallacious and I'd be happy to point out the errors in any of them," said Rutgers professor Alan Robock, a meteorologist.
Responding to a question at the town hall last month, Christie — a rising star in the Republican Party — said he was "skeptical" that climate change is man-made and "more science" is needed to prove it.
"I wondered whether he was telling the truth or not. Whether he really was confused or if he was saying what the Republican Party wanted him to say," said Robock.
The scientists invited Christie to the event and offered to meet with him publicly. Environment New Jersey Executive Director Dens Mottola said they did not hear back, but the Christie administration sent two officials — assistant counsel Robert Marshall and policy adviser Tricia Caliguire — to report back to the governor.
Paul Falkowski, director of the Rutgers University Energy Institute, said global warming doubts are based on politics and personal beliefs, not science.
"There is no honest argument against human climate change. The issues now rely primarily on political dialogue on how we're going to move this country forward," he said.
Falkowski said he was encouraged when Christie said he wanted to make New Jersey more energy efficient, but that his policy decisions, such as hiking mass transit fares while refusing to raise the state's 14.5 cent gas tax is "the wrong message to be sending."
Previous coverage:
• N.J. environmental group backs Christie endorsement despite his questions on global warming cause
• Gov. Christie says he's skeptical that global warming is caused by humans