Rep. Waxman: Climate Change is Dangerous

Letter from Congressman HENRY WAXMAN

Dear Friends,

The connection between climate change and wildfires cannot be denied.  As co-chairs of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and I convened a hearing this summer to discuss the devastating impact of climate change on wildfires.  Our panel of experts included firefighters, a US Forest Service representative, State Foresters, and scientist Dr. William Sommers.  The panelists warned that the effects of climate change are worsening, the danger of fighting fires is growing, and the cost to minimize the risk of forest fires and fight the fires is increasing.

Two weeks after our hearing, the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park started burning, and it has consumed more than 235,000 acres of forest land.  According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Rim Fire is poised to become the third largest wildfire in California history.  A quick glance at Cal Fire's list of the 20 largest California wildfires since 1932 shows that half of the fires have occurred in the last 10 years (http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/20LACRES.pdf).

The problem is not limited to California.  More than nine million acres burned in the United States last year in one of the most destructive fire seasons on record.  Each of the last six fire seasons has cost the federal government more than $1 billion.  The panelists at our hearing expressed their strong concern that budget sequestration is limiting our ability to prevent and fight forest fires just as they reach new levels of frequency and intensity.

Congress and the American people cannot continue to ignore the impact of climate change.  Scientists tell us these changes are not just random variability and that bigger and more intense fires are red flags indicating climate change.  Wildfires are only going to continue to worsen as our temperatures rise, so Congress must act to address not only the impacts of these devastating wildfires, but also the effects of climate change.  You can count on me to continue to push as hard as I can for congressional action on this critically important challenge.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman

Ranking Democrat in Energy Committee