"Politically correct environmental monitoring" ...Now I've heard everything.
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...esearch?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Donald Trump is poised to eliminate all climate change research conducted by Nasa as part of a crackdown on politicized science, his senior adviser on issues relating to the space agency has said.
Nasas Earth science division is set to be stripped of funding in favor of exploration of deep space, with the president-elect having set a goal during the campaign to explore the entire solar system by the end of the century.
This would mean the elimination of Nasas world-renowned research into temperature, ice, clouds and other climate phenomena. Nasas network of satellites provide a wealth of information on climate change, with the Earth science divisions budget set to grow to $2bn next year. By comparison, space exploration has been scaled back somewhat, with a proposed budget of $2.8bn in 2017.
Bob Walker, a senior Trump campaign adviser, said there was no need for Nasa to do what he has previously described as politically correct environmental monitoring.
We see Nasa in an exploration role, in deep space research, Walker told the Guardian. Earth-centric science is better placed at other agencies where it is their prime mission.
My guess is that it would be difficult to stop all ongoing Nasa programs but future programs should definitely be placed with other agencies. I believe that climate research is necessary but it has been heavily politicized, which has undermined a lot of the work that researchers have been doing. Mr Trumps decisions will be based upon solid science, not politicized science.
Walker, however, claimed that doubt over the role of human activity in climate change is a view shared by half the climatologists in the world. We need good science to tell us what the reality is and science could do that if politicians didnt interfere with it.
Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Penn State University, said Nasa has a critical and unique role in observing Earth and climate change.
Without the support of Nasa, not only the US but the entire world would be taking a hard hit when it comes to understanding the behavior of our climate and the threats posed by human-caused climate change, he said.
It would be a blatantly political move, and would indicate the president-elects willingness to pander to the very same lobbyists and corporate interest groups he derided throughout the campaign.
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...esearch?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter