In testy letter, scientists tell Rick Perry he lacks 'fundamental understanding' of climate science

Rick Perry.
(Image credit: Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Weather scientists with the American Meteorological Society sent Energy Secretary Rick Perry a letter on Wednesday, hoping to educate him on climate change.

The letter came after Perry said during an interview with CNBC that he does not think carbon dioxide plays a primary role in contributing to climate change. This shows he lacks a "fundamental understanding of the science," the scientists said, and it is "critically important that you understand that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are the primary cause. This is a conclusion based on the comprehensive assessment of scientific evidence. It is based on multiple independent lines of evidence that have been affirmed by thousands of independent scientists and numerous scientific institutions around the world."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.