Montana HJ 10: “Overwhelming scientific evidence”?

Hearing for HJ 10 is scheduled for: Wednesday, Feb 13, 3 p.m., Rm 172, Helena

Rep Doug Coffin (D), Missoula, introduced HJ 10. Information about Rep Doug Coffin is here and here. The HJ 10 legislative draft is here. Continuing Bill information will be here. Download PDF.

House Joint Resolution Number 10
A Joint Resolution of the Senate And The House Of Representatives 
of the State Of Montana stating that 
Climate Change is  Scientifically Valid and Represents an Ecological Threat

1. WHEREAS, scientific data reported by climatologists from the United States and numerous other nations in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration unequivocally shows that anthropogenic or human-made climate change is factually documented and supported by overwhelming scientific evidence; and
2. WHEREAS, data shows that the mean global temperature has increased by 1 degree C in the last 100 years, and the 50-year rate of change has doubled; and
3. WHEREAS, 7 of the 8 warmest years on record have occurred in the last 12 years, and the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1995; and
4. WHEREAS, ocean heat levels are at a record high, and sea levels have increased by 20 centimeters since 1900 and they are projected to increase by another 40 centimeters this century; and
5. WHEREAS, the oceans have absorbed enough carbon dioxide within the last 100 years to lower their pH from 8.25 to 8.13, and a similar acidification is happening to soil; and
6. WHEREAS, the data shows that the rate of polar ice melting is accelerating, and estimates suggest that the Arctic mass has decreased by 23% over the last 100 years; and
7. WHEREAS, the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans may be open throughout the entire year in just 10 years; and
8. WHEREAS, nations are already making claims on the new territories, including oil and mineral leases in the new Arctic Ocean; and
9. WHEREAS, Antarctic ice is melting twice as fast as previously estimated, with a 2.4 degree C temperature increase since 1950; and
10. WHEREAS, the data shows that 10 of the highest named storm seasons in the Atlantic Ocean have occurred in the last 15 years; and
11. WHEREAS, the United States land surface temperature has increased 1.5 to 2 degrees C in the last 100 years, and 2012 will be the hottest year ever for the lower 48 states; and
12. WHEREAS, November 2012 was the 36th consecutive warmer-than-average November, the 333rd straight month of increasing monthly average temperatures, with ten of the warmest Novembers occurring in the last twelve years, and July 2012 was the warmest July ever; and
13. WHEREAS, the increasing concentrations and increasing free energy content of climate change gases in the atmosphere correlate with increasing anthropogenic or human-made activities, including extraction and burning of solid or liquid carbon as potential energy with a subsequent transformation into atmospheric gases as kinetic energy in the atmosphere; and
14. WHEREAS, the data clearly shows that the combination of increased land surface, atmospheric and ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, and increased energy in storms all correlate with increased concentrations of climate change gases in the atmosphere that result from human activities.

A. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the 63rd Legislature:

(1)  recognizes that anthropogenic or human-made climate change is scientifically valid and represents scientific fact;

(2)  understands that anthropogenic climate change, manifesting as major changes in weather patterns in North America, including Montana, has the potential to cause major socioeconomic and demographic dislocations in Montana that can be construed as an ecological threat;

(3)  compels state government and its affiliated agencies, with due consideration of Montana’s economic heritage and preservation of employment traditions, to employ, invent, and apply new technologies commensurate with the conservation of resources in a manner that mitigates and adapts to climate change to the best of our ability; and

(4)  suggests that educators include anthropogenic climate change science in their science education curricula.

B. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Montana Congressional Delegation, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy, the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Governor of the State of Montana, the Commissioner of Higher Education, the Montana Board of Education, and the Office of Public Instruction.

C. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State, in coordination with the University System and all state agencies, be encouraged to promote this resolution by encouraging the University System and state agencies to provide copies of this resolution to University System employees, state employees, and Montana university students.

Committee Members are:

Bennett, Jerry (R – Ch)
Connell, Pat (R – V Ch)
Court, Virginia (D – V Ch)
Doane, Alan (R)
Eck, Jenny (D)
Fitzpatrick, Steve (R)
Galt, Wylie (R)
Hoven, Brian (R)
Lieser, Ed (D)
Lynch, Ryan (D)
Miller, Mike (R)
Pomnichowski, JP (D)
Shaw, Ray (R)
Warburton, Wendy (R)
White, Kerry (R)
Williams, Kathleen (D)

Secretary: Rebecca Shaw, Rm 451,
(406) 444-4877

Staff: Joe Kolman (LEPO),
Environmental Analyst, Rm 171B,
(406) 444-3747