Rick Perry talks global warming in Hampton, NH (Video and Transcript)

Rick Perry fielded yet another question about his position on global warming at a Town Hall Meeting in Hampton, NH this morning.

“You repute the National Academy of Science’s findings that fossil fuels contribute to global warming,” a voter reminded Perry. “I’m wondering where you are getting your science, apart from Nobel laureates who are electrical engineers.”

Here is a video and transcript of Rick Perry's response:

There is a substantial group of scientists out there who are skeptical about the ‘incontrovertible’ statements that global warming is due mainly to man’s involvement. What is true is that our temperatures have gone up and down for millennium. 

And the issue is this – should American jeopardize its economy with a cap and trade type of legislation and base it on science that is still not settled. 

Now I know there are a lot of scientists out there who say, “Oh, yes it is.” But when you have Nobel laureates who stand up along with other scientists and say, “You know, let’s not rush into this.” Because the fact is, China is going to be out there not involved in any agreement at all. India’s involved in no agreement at all from the standpoint of limiting those CO2 greenhouse gases. And we live in a big ball. And that emissions are going to impact the world. 

The issue is, are we as an America going to jeopardize the future of this country by putting into place a program that there are still enough skeptics in my book to stand with them and say, “You know what, I don’t believe that manmade global warming is settled in science enough for us to justify a economic impact on this country that could be devastating to the future.”

The question was a follow up to a similar one posed by a voter at Perry’s first Town Hall Meeting in New Hampshire, held in Derry on Friday. Perry mentioned, but did not identify by name, a Nobel laureate who supposedly shares his skepticism on climate. L.A. Times reporter Paul West writes that the Nobel prize winner in question is Ivar Giaver, who won the award in 1973 for his work on superconductors.

Rick Perry: Science not settled on global warming

At the September 7, 2011 Republican Presidential Debate, Texas Governor Rick Perry was asked to identify specific scientists or theories he found credible on climate change. Here's how Perry responded:

John Harris, Politico: Governor Perry, Governor Huntsman were not specific about names, but the two of you do have a difference of opinion about climate change. Just recently in New Hampshire, you said that weekly and even daily scientists are coming forward to question the idea that human activity is behind climate change. Which scientists have you found most credible on this subject?

Rick Perry: Well, I do agree that there is ... the science is... is not settled on this. The idea that we would put Americans' economy at ... at ... at jeopardy based on scientific theory that's not settled yet, to me, is just ... is nonsense. I mean, it ... I mean ... and I tell somebody, I said, just because you have a group of scientists that have stood up and said here is the fact, Galileo got outvoted for a spell.

But the fact is, to put America's economic future in jeopardy, asking us to cut back in areas that would have monstrous economic impact on this country is not good economics and I will suggest to you is not necessarily good science. Find out what the science truly is before you start putting the American economy in jeopardy.

John Harris: Just to follow up quickly. Tell us how you've done that. Are there specific... specific scientists or specific theories that you've found especially compelling, as you...

Rick Perry: Let me tell you what I find compelling, is what we've done in the state of Texas, using our ability to regulate our clean air. We cleaned up our air in the state of Texas, more than any other state in the nation during the decade. Nitrous oxide levels, down by 57 percent. Ozone levels down by 27 percent.

That's the way you need to do it, not by some scientist somewhere saying, "Here is what we think is happening out there." The fact of the matter is, the science is not settled on whether or not the climate change is being impacted by man to the point where we're going to put America's economics in jeopardy.

Rick Perry global warming video

Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry responded to a question about climate change during his appearance at Politics & Eggs, held at the Bedford Inn in Bedford, NH on August 17, 2011.

Video of Rick Perry questioning the science on global warming courtesy of American Bridge 21st Century.



Transcript of Rick Perry's climate change remarks:

You may have a point there because, I do believe that the issue of global warming has been politicized. I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data, so that they will have dollars rolling into their, to their projects. I think we're seeing almost weekly or even daily scientists who are coming forward and questioning, the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change. Yes, our climate's changed, it's been changing for ever-ever since the earth was formed, but I do not buy into that uh, a group of scientists, who have in some cases found to be manipulating this information and the cost to the country and to the world of implementing these uh, uh anti-carbon programs is in the billions if not trillions of dollars at the end of the, of the day, and I don't think from my perspective I want America to be engaged in spending that much money on still a scientific theory that has not been proven, and from my perspective is more and more being put into question.

Meanwhile, Politico reminded voters that "Rick Perry backed an already-climate crusading Al Gore" in 1988. At the time, Perry was a Democrat.