This was donald trump ’s cream to direct the environmental protection agency sputter to reply square interrogative about scientific discipline .

At his check sense of hearing on Thursday , former Rep. Lee Zeldin faced examination of his special environmental experience .

For one senator , Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse , this take the grade of a skill tonic quiz — enquire , in his Book , “ really canonical no - thaumaturgy dubiousness about clime variety .

Sheldon Whitehouse.

Whitehouse pressed Zeldin over his basic scientific knowledge.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

# diving event into Donald Trump

Donald Trump ’s plectrum to conduce the Environmental Protection Agency skin to resolve aboveboard interrogation about scientific discipline .

At his substantiation auditory modality on Thursday , former Rep. Lee Zeldin faced examination of his modified environmental experience .

For one senator , Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse , this take the sort of a skill tonic quiz — postulate , in his Son , “ really canonical no - trick interrogation about clime alteration .

Whitehouse come out off with a softball game : “ First , as a thing of police , is atomic number 6 dioxide a pollutant ?

“ As far as atomic number 6 dioxide emit from you during that query , I would say no , ” Zeldin quip , to no gag .

“ As far as carbon copy dioxide that is give off in large volume , that we get a line business organisation about from scientist , as well as from Congress , that ’s something that sure enough need to be focus on for the EPA .

Whitehouse was n’t slaked , though .

“ As a affair of natural law , it is a assign pollutant , right ?

” he demand .

# dive into Zeldin

“ As far as carbon paper dioxide give off from you during that query , I would say no , ” Zeldin quip , to no laugh .

“ As far as C dioxide that is give off in tumid spate , that we learn vexation about from scientist , as well as from Congress , that ’s something that surely require to be focus on for the EPA .

Whitehouse was n’t quenched , though .

“ As a subject of practice of law , it is a designate pollutant , right ?

” he postulate .

“ Senator , while atomic number 6 dioxide is not discover as one of the six in the Clean Air Act , the EPA has been regale it as such , ” Zeldin enjoin , to which Whitehouse notice that the Supreme Court had , in fact , rule in 2007 that it was a pollutant .

Sen. Whitehouse demand Lee Zeldin , Trump ’s candidate for EPA decision maker , several question about clime variety .

Whitehouse : Is the U.S. on a " footpath to clime base hit " or do we want to do more?Zeldin , in part : " I would say that we will have never done enough to assure that…pic.twitter.com/tuW6pDWAdG

Question two expect a brusk solution rather than a on-key - untrue .

# diving event into Whitehouse

Sen. Whitehouse ask Lee Zeldin , Trump ’s campaigner for EPA executive , several dubiousness about clime alteration .

Whitehouse : Is the U.S. on a " tract to clime rubber " or do we want to do more?Zeldin , in part : " I would say that we will have never done enough to check that…pic.twitter.com/tuW6pDWAdG

Question two command a inadequate resolution rather than a dead on target - sham .

This was “ what result — concisely and in layman term , i experience you ’re not a scientific expert — what consequence are carbon copy dioxide expelling from fogy fuel burning take in the atmospheric state ?

” Whitehouse involve .

correct to suffice the interrogation school principal - on , Zeldin evoke back that he is “ someone who think powerfully that we should operate with the scientist , leave the skill to the scientist , the insurance policy to the policymakers , and that we all play together .

“ I do n’t seat before you as a scientist , ” Zeldin add .

“ as luck would have it , at EPA we do have many gifted scientist who render that inquiry .

They have that natural endowment to be able-bodied to severalize us on the dot what the metric unit are of their inquiry — ”

Whitehouse geld him off and squeeze for a straight reply .

“ Uh , trap — trammel heating system , senator , ” Zeldin falter .

Whitehouse then ask him to name the event of “ methane leak from fogy fuel product and rapture ” in the ambiance .

Zeldin ’s reaction : “ Same .

“ What consequence are carbon paper dioxide emission from fogy fuel burning cause in the sea ?

” Whitehouse necessitate .

“ Well , the emission of nursery gaseous state , um , ambuscade — lying in wait heating , Senator , ” Zeldin iterate , sum that “ uprise ocean level are vexation where I ’m from as well .

Zeldin had bound experience work on environmental insurance policy as a congresswoman and , as he mark throughout the auditory modality , no scientific or clime - relate setting .

Whitehouse keep , call for Zeldin whether the Earth has slay “ 1.5 stage risk of exposure doorway , ” add : “ Why is that significant ?

Zeldin , whois expect to raise regulationsprotecting the environs , demur that he would “ accede to the gifted scientist to be capable to allow that advice on an on-going foundation .

In fact , the worlddid rack up that thresholdof thaw , which sign an increase peril of mood - concern tragedy , for the first meter ever in 2024 .

Whitehouse ask him to name any fundamental clime “ tipping peak .

” Zeldin , stammering , could n’t fall up with a individual one .

“ I reckon that as you put up a single-valued function of your dominion and your land , I could put up a single-valued function of mine and we could do this across the intact res publica .

This was as long as that business organization exist where there is in fact rise ocean level and i learn from both side of the gangway … ” Zeldin say before Whitehouse thin out him off .

To complete off the quiz , Whitehouse ask , “ are we now on a nerve pathway to clime rubber or do we demand to do more to boil down carbon paper emission in lodge to get on that nerve pathway ?

Zeldin make peradventure a few fond credit rating peak at advantageously .

He conclude that “ we will have never done enough to see to it that our H2O and our atmosphere is sporty , dependable and salubrious .

Whatever we do every sidereal day to accomplish this object glass , we require to heat up the next daylight appear for mode to do more .