Sanders blasts GOP climate change deniers

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said it was unfortunate that Republicans continue to block legislation that aims to address the effects of climate change.

“This is a crisis and we’ve got address it,” Sanders said Tuesday. “The bad news is that Republicans in Congress, many of whom don’t even believe the scientific consensus that global warming is a growing threat to our planet, continue to block legislation to address the planetary crisis.”

{mosads}Sanders’ comments were prompted by President Obama’s speech on climate change at the United Nations. Obama said this is the generation with the power to prevent a global climate crisis.

“I appreciate President Obama’s call for the United States to be a leader on climate change,” Sanders said. “The president can and should do more, but the actions he announced today — like new agreements to reduce methane pollution — are important steps toward tackling the planetary crisis of global warming.”

Republicans have blocked legislation introduced by Sanders that would tax carbon and methane emissions. He said his bill would then use the revenue generated by the tax to lower consumers’ bills for cleaner energy sources.

Some Republicans, such as Sen. James Inhofe (Okla.), oppose a carbon tax because they believe climate change is a “hoax” and that forcing new, clean energy sources on the U.S. market would increase prices.