Pataki: GOP Needs To Embrace Science and Innovation on Global Warming

PATAKI: "Yes, he’s right, because what he said is every proposal that they made. There are two points that I want to make here, John. First, I am different from every other Republican seeking the nomination, in that I’m a limited government conservative. And that means economic policy, social policy, leave it to the states and people in accordance with the Tenth Amendment. And second is, Republicans have to embrace science. There’s no question, none, that CO2 emitted by humans is a greenhouse gas that will warm the atmosphere, all things being equal. That doesn’t mean we have to accept Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton’s big strategy of raising government power, government control over energy and manufacturing in this country. What I said at that debate and what I deeply believe is Republicans should embrace innovation. American invention. We are the only country in the world that today has fewer greenhouse gas emissions than in 1995. And it’s not because of the EPA or big government programs, it is because of private industry innovation, fracking, that has allowed us to change from coal to natural gas-powered plants. And in the process, create many more jobs and more security here in America. Embrace science, embrace innovation. We’re Americans. We can look at the 21st century with confidence and optimism."