Mitt Romney: Humans contribute to global warming

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination June 2, 2011 at Bittersweet Farm in Stratham, New Hampshire.

/ Darren McCollester

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney broke with many in his party on Friday when he said he believes humans have contributed to global warming.

"I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that," said at a New Hampshire town hall meeting, according to Reuters.

There is widespread consensus within the scientific community that the earth warming and that human beings are at least partially responsible. But many Republicans dispute that conclusion, including Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Inhofe has suggested that global warming is a hoax that "started in the United Nations and the ones in the United States who really grab a hold of this is the Hollywood elite."

Romney reportedly said Friday that he believed the United States as well as foreign nations need to "reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases," saying they "may be significant contributors" to climate change.

As Reuters notes, one of 2012 GOP Romney's rivals, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, said last week that the push to address climate change is "the newest excuse to take control of lives" by "left-wing intellectuals." Gingrich had previously suggested that "our country must take action on climate change."

Gingrich is not the only Republican presidential contender to shift on climate change issues. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said in 2007 that "it's time for Congress to act by capping greenhouse gas pollution," but he now says it isn't the time to address the issue. And former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has backed off his previous support for cap-and-trade energy legislation, saying he had been wrong in once calling for a cap on carbon emissions.

[John_Rational]

by ZunarJ59 June 5, 2011 9:57 PM EDT
"20,000 after those nukes go off )a mere eye-blink in the grands scheme) the Earth will be exactly as it was before they went off."

People simply don't have the necessary knowledge to understand these issues. 20,000 years after a global nuclear war this planet will be a totally sterile piece of barren rock with about 2% of the atmospheric pressure we have now. Unless bacteria drop in from outer space there is no chance that any living organism would survive a nuclear world war. At the 20,000 year mark the Earth would be identical to Mars with no oxygen, no liquid water, and NO life of any kind which originated on Earth, with absolutely no hope of any new life forms evolving here.

I could not possibly care less whether or not human activity is contributing to global warming. The fact is that global warming is happening, and if it continues, it will result in the extinction of the human race, or a massive die off and a return to prehistoric living conditions. I don't care if chipmunks, rabbits, squids, or whales manage to survive. If there are no humans left then the world is dead. Whatever the cause, global warming must be stopped. Anyone who thinks we haven't, and can't, significantly change the whole bloody world is delusional, ignorant, and/or stupid. Wake up and smell the poison! You live on a dieing planet. Disbelief wont change that!

[oltimer1001]

You guys that believe this believe in a fairy tale. Please buy the Arizona golden gate bridge from me. No, there have been varitions in weather for all of my 75 years here on earth and until Christ returns we will have those variations so when you make these statements please provide proof thereof...

[Jeem1941]

Walla! Shocking news from a Republican...let's see, this is now 2011!

[Zann-Zel]

Romney seems to be the only Republican out there right now who will make a level headed statement rather than just tow party lines! He'll never make it into the White House - but if we had to live under a Republican, I'd rather it be him!

[dante805]

This is why he is doomed...this, healthcare, and illegal immigration. Sorry mitt you just keeping killing your chances.

[ZunarJ59]

Horse hockey. This is NOTHING the human race can do to help or harm the Earth. It was here billions before us and will continue for billion so years after we're gone. To think that WE could affect the whole planet is simple arrogance.

[jimbom121]

I think you just won for the most ignorant statement ever. Do you think that the world is flat? Or that evolution never happened?

[boatdocster]

Let's see - humans set off 500 large thermonuclear weapons at the same time, with the accompanying huge explosions, fire storms, nuclear winter and radiation-radioactive fallout.

Believing that would not hurt and probably destroy the Earth - simple arrogance.

[TheJonalist]

If my solar ovens stop working installed into ea consumer vehicle I might come looking for you Mr. Mitt Romney. There are at least 250 million consumer vehicles to convert & all Ford Motor Company can do is make a 100 mile possible electric 23kw lithium battery/heat to power regenerative breaking system after our Federal Government spent a million testing power generating shock absorbers for nothing charged to auto companies and this really makes me mad that a small Focus auto does not have power generating shock absorbers. There are so many possible additions to add to a electric car Ford might never sell that city clunker, to go to my grandparent's home I would have to charge 4x and add 4 hours for each charge onto the trip which via gasoline (1/2 tank) takes about 3 hours a total difference of 13+ hours to get there charging the last charge after arriving cause I would be out of stored juice. If I make me a towable wind turbine I can generate power during the trip and travel faster than 43 mph that car of Ford can only accomplish on full battery. It is all in how it turbo's into the encapsulated wind turbine generator to use it while driving, China gave me a tip on how to vortec the wind, making it like a backward vacuum cleaner suction system mounted on top of the turbine blades extra 50% power boost on the highway.

[vissionquest]

I have never been a fan of Romney (I am from Massachusetts) but he is the only republican to face facts and offer his own opinions. It is time that the republican party started focusing on their more intelligent candidates and hide those that are an embarrassment to the country. I would hope there are better people than Romney, but what we have been hearing about (Palin. Trump, and others) are jokes as far as their ability to be the President

[RET-ABNRGR-CSM]

next he'll say he believed al gore invented the internet

[RET-ABNRGR-CSM]

I thought Al Gore said it was Cow Farts??