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Republican Weatherman: Don’t Deny Global Warming

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    Conservative Meteorologist Paul Douglas tells Alan that the warmest July ever in America is evidence that climate change is real.

  • Duration 10:25
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Welcome Paul Douglas meteorologist with the star Tribune -- -- occupant -- Nancy respected meteorologist.

That's when he used to broadcast television 32 years -- radio experience.

And Paul a Republican is that correct.

I think moderate Republican which is an oxy moron Alan.

I know when reading -- -- said about climate and and -- really had to step with your party which is a shame.

Because you're talking about science not ideology here why do we have the hottest July ever.

In this country.

Well you know I did it through and I -- is looking at the match back in the mid ninety's that something was out of sync.

I've but the weather's always been variable we've always set ups and downs -- week's cold waves droughts floods.

But what I noticed in the game yeah.

Was bad.

Some segments Turbo charging these extremes they were happening with greater frequency.

And greater intensity.

I responded -- And and the fact go look feel led me to believe that the most likely answer.

And believe it or not climate scientists did look into all these -- Earl turner that's like that's on the chatter you federal.

And I just think that the conclusion.

That 97%.

Of climate scientists are probably right.

And so.

You know I I tell people Allen is if you -- -- cardiologist.

But traders are roomful of cardiologists -- -- -- heart problem and buy these certain percent.

Of the people the doctors in -- room screen here is your prognosis.

-- is what you should be doing.

You probably listen to that 97%.

Why do you want to listen to the three guys in the back with duct tape and -- Why do you suppose conservatives will say well I can produce just as many climatologists.

Who say there is such as the global warming and it's certainly not man made them tonight and I can we don't scientist to say the same thing.

It's it's -- -- future talking Ph.D.

peer reviewed climate scientists.

You know the but the problem is that some of these so called surveys that have been trotted -- he's our climate scientists.

Easier ethical elements there -- electrical engineers or economists.

You know nothing against those people but they haven't made this their -- -- And -- boggles my mind I think because all of us look out the window.

Many of those are armchair meteorologists leaping somehow they give this a license.

To talk about climate science I -- to be experts.

How is a meteorologist -- the climatologist.

We are very short term whether I'm interest in the next seven dependence.

And yet -- atmosphere has no boundaries people want to know what's going to happen next quarter.

We have an el Nino now and so a lot of people wondering what that means from the -- forecast.

And and frankly television meteorologists are really -- there on the short range -- -- care.

You look out your window that's whether an accumulation of days and weeks and months and years and decades.

-- -- I get it that's an interesting distinction the average temperature for last month 77 point six degrees 3.3 degrees above the average twentieth century temperature.

And it is the throne that July 1936 widgets at the record 77 point four degrees so.

This this this is that this is a trend this is not a one shot deal.

No question and it's something that -- got buried -- -- -- yesterday with no it structurally he's 46%.

Of America.

Has experienced.

Extreme weather this year that to -- -- record.

Gusting to 42%.

Back in 1934 at the height of the dust ball and amazing -- Alan.

Extreme weather is doing what climate scientist could not -- potential recently that is.

Convince the average American on the street that maybe something has changed it's not your grandfather's what -- anymore.

Two out of three people interview in the last two years in a recent survey said that they had personally.

Been impacted by extreme weather.

Yet again the weather's always been severe yes we've always had storms.

But I liken it to mother nature picking up the remote controlled -- DVR putting our weather on fast forward and cranking the volume -- -- And at some point just step back -- -- say is this the new normal.

What on earth is going on -- I'm still cautiously optimistic.

Maybe not equally so that we're gonna figure this -- but we need to put a price on carpet like any pollutants.

We need to put out a price on carbon and come up with a plan.

And I I still believe in this country I believe in innovation and technology I've started companies.

We're gonna figure this out and I think what -- I get my Republican friends if you if I haven't left.

For the cable.

He is missing out on the greatest boom.

That this country has ever seen economically I mean it is going to require every ounce.

Of entrepreneurial.

Effort and ingenuity.

Engineer.

Ways for us to reduce carbon.

Ramp up with carbon free energy sources -- -- chance for us to reinvent ourselves.

As a nation we need a leader like I still hope President Obama -- -- to the occasion we need a Marshall plan for the United States.

And somebody did tell the story that's something Ronald Reagan did very well he was good at storyteller.

LA's an active.

Computer get your yeah he was fitted fairy tale even if in some of them were tall -- But well you know what -- they're very happy people are parallel parallel.

I don't think Mitt Romney's gonna do that Paul Davis is I guess he's a meteorologist author restless guys.

Ultimate weather book gilded weather bug.

And you said you've had a piece in Huffington Post a few months ago he's injured.

Your climate epiphany was not overnight in -- nothing to do with Al Gore to how did you evolve to and from where you came from to this position.

Are worked in local television.

Double BC's -- of the CBS affiliate up here and you know.

Weather and climate are now hopelessly intertwined and every now and then I would include -- weather nugget.

He and my three minute weather cast on channel -- here in the Twin Cities.

And I would get scores hundreds of emails flying nails just lamb basting -- You know all -- Myers came out of the woodwork.

And features strengthened my resolve and now that I have my own company launched a new weather channel called western nations.

In response.

To discreetly into whether you.

You just on the -- senior revenue post speech you said you crippled the billions and you're Christian you quote -- you say we -- here to manage God's property.

What more of what better way to live a Christian life then to observe that.

And to take care of of what we've been given and leave it better than we found it right.

-- you know he's absolutely right what -- stewards.

And we have a moral obligation to future generations.

And this is going to be the ultimate test of of capitalism and markets you know and the markets.

Respond in time everybody's fixated on short term results.

The next quarter one thing we don't do very well -- look outside 1020 years.

But our -- Are going to be pretty fit.

And our grandkids that I just wanna be able to tell my kids.

And my grandkids down the road that I get everything -- good.

-- sound the alarm.

We have a problem we're addicted to carbon there are solutions.

That part of the problem people to -- -- until you present them with so little.

Should do what solutions you have you talking about carbon credits for example what where do we start.

What we have to start with Smart regulations.

Every need to put a price on carbon.

And you know yes I I like the idea of small government but we know what happens when all regulation goes away -- the -- -- -- box.

And you don't monopolist can be favored and and all kinds of unpleasant things happened.

But we first need to put a price on carbon.

And we need to provide incentives.

For companies to continue innovating and investing.

And I think simplifying the tax code.

Makes cents.

I don't pretend to be a politician -- battled heavily.

A -- we keyboard but I know that we -- the entrepreneurs in this country to come up with solutions to wean us off car.

Not going to happen overnight may take twenty years.

But you know what if we don't do it the Chinese the Europeans are laughing -- has been thinking I'm not they don't they don't dispute.

Climate science anymore.

And they're going to have an edge and I think that may wake up Republicans eventually when they realized.

We're going to be eating its dust from the Chinese -- regal figure his show and file.

And if you approach it went -- to federal standpoint as you do.

Having started so many companies have a say you know there's money and then there are hills there is really a business here maybe that's a way to get to -- as you point out to people on your side of the -- You know nobody wants to leave money on the table Richard Branson and got -- and he said that.

But person or the company its figures itself will not only -- the wealthiest person on the planet today.

He will be the wealthiest person that ever lived and I tend to agree.

There's a chance to reinvent America.

A clean green sustainable.

Energy independent future.

And I just rich.

-- -- -- And the president.

Would make this a priority.

And especially after the summer work we're having I don't know what kind of wake -- call.

It's going to take but we just got smacked upside the head in July yeah.

And and I'm I'm still hoping that reason logic and science prevails.

I call I appreciate it doesn't it was tonight a thank you for your time sir.

There's -- you tell him like you thank you Paul Douglas meteorologist with the star Tribune.