[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 181 (Tuesday, November 7, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7050-S7051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Climate Disruption

  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, climate disruption is the seminal 
challenge of our generation. We have seen the impacts occurring all 
around the world. We see it in the disappearing Arctic ice. We see it 
in the melting permafrost. We see it in the change of carbon dioxide 
and methane being emitted from peat bogs, disappearing glaciers, dying 
coral reefs, and certainly more powerful storms and raging fires.
  It is the responsibility of those of us in this generation, in this 
time, to take action. Indeed, communities across the globe are taking 
action. They are increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, 
vehicles, and appliances, and they are replacing carbon-polluting 
fossil fuel energy with renewable energy. This is such an important 
issue.
  How much do you know about the changes underway? Well, let's find 
out. Welcome to episode 7 of the Senate Climate Disruption Quiz.
  Our first question is, Since the year 2000, the rate of global carbon 
dioxide pollution has decreased dramatically, decreased slightly, 
stayed the same, or increased substantially? Lock in your answers.

[[Page S7051]]

  The answer is D, increased substantially. Many folks think that 
because of the actions being taken at the local level and by the 
community of nations and the Paris Agreement, that, in fact, global 
CO2 pollution has decreased dramatically, but it has not. 
The rate at which the pollution is occurring is increasing. So it isn't 
just the total level. For example, in 1990, we had 354 parts per 
million; 10 years later, in 2000, we were up to 369.64 parts per 
million; and in 2017, we were up to 408.8 parts per million. The levels 
are climbing, but the speed is increasing as well. In that period 
around 1990, we were increasing about 1\1/2\ parts per million per 
year; by 2000, it was about 2 parts per million per year; and now we 
are at 2\1/2\ parts per million per year. So this increase is 
substantial.
  As a community of nations, we have to not only proceed to decrease 
total carbon pollution, but first we have to get the rate of increase 
under control.
  This brings us to the second question: In September of this year, how 
many miles did a Proterra bus drive on a single charge? Did this bus 
set a record by going 270 miles, the distance between L.A. and Las 
Vegas, or did it set a record by going 600 miles, equivalent from New 
York City to Columbia, SC? Did it travel over 1,100 miles, the 
equivalent distance from Arizona to Arkansas? Did it manage to go 2,092 
miles, the shortest distance from the east coast to the west coast in 
America? Lock in your answers.
  The correct answer is C. It went 1,100 miles. The electric bus 
traveled 1,100 miles. This bus was a new version of the Catalyst E2. It 
is called the Catalyst E2 Max. It is produced by Proterra. It has a 
battery that is 50 percent larger than the previous version that is 
being sold commercially--that is the Catalyst E2. That Proterra that is 
currently being sold has a functional range for the transit agencies 
that are buying it of over 350 miles, about 350 miles. That is pretty 
impressive. But by having a battery that is 50 percent lighter and 
moving quite slowly, driving it slowly, they managed to go 1,100 miles. 
It is really an indication of the rapid transformation of this 
particular type of electric vehicle.
  Question No. 3: Warmer weather is contributing to what problem in 
major American cities? Is the problem caused by warmer weather transit 
delays? Is it exploding rat populations? Is warmer weather contributing 
to larger potholes or to longer tourist seasons?
  Well, the dramatic answer here is that the warmer weather is 
contributing to exploding rat populations. Rat breeding usually slows 
in winter, but if you have a mild winter, that doesn't happen.

  Since 2013, the pest control company Orkin has reported significant 
growth in its services--61 percent growth in Chicago, 67 percent in 
Boston, 174 percent in San Francisco, 129 percent in New York City, and 
57 percent in Washington, DC, right here where the Capitol is located. 
This is a major economic and health problem. Rats caused $19 billion in 
economic damage in 2000 from, among other things, eating away at 
buildings and infrastructure, and, of course, they are carriers of 
rodent-borne diseases like E. coli and salmonella. Plus, we just simply 
don't like having them in our cities.
  Let's turn to the next question, question No. 4. As of today, how 
many nations in the world are rejecting the Paris Agreement that 
addresses climate disruption? Is the answer 25 out of the roughly 200 
nations in the world or 12 or 3 nations or 1 nation? Lock in your 
answers.
  The answer is not 25 nor 12, and it is not 3. It is now just one 
nation that is rejecting the Paris Agreement. Now, until recently there 
were three nations. You had two nations that had not signed up and one 
nation that had said it was going to withdraw. The two that had not 
signed up were Nicaragua and Syria, and the one that said it was going 
to withdraw was the United States of America. President Trump made that 
announcement. But a short time ago, Nicaragua announced it was going to 
ratify the treaty, and today Syria announced it was going to ratify the 
treaty. That leaves the United States standing alone as the only Nation 
that is saying it is going to reject the Paris Agreement.
  Of course, this has a big impact on American leadership in the world, 
since we worked very hard to bring nations together to craft this 
agreement. The nations were so impressed that all of them in the world 
are now participating except us--except the United States.
  Let's go to question No. 5. Better management of our lands and 
forests could help reach what percent of the goals laid out in the 
Paris Agreement? Could better management of lands and forests 
contribute to reaching 5 percent, or one-twentieth of the goal; or 12 
percent, roughly one-eighth; or 25 percent, roughly one-quarter of the 
goal; or 37 percent, more than one-third of the goal laid out in Paris? 
Lock in your answers.
  The correct answer to this is D, 37 percent, or more than one-third, 
a surprisingly high number. An international study released last month 
said the natural climate solutions in guarding the management of our 
lands and our forests could help us reach more than a third of the 
goals laid out in the Paris Agreement. The paper looked at 20 
conservation and improved land management actions that help increase 
carbon storage or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective 
manner. The single most important factor among them is reforestation.
  Years ago I heard an individual say: Wouldn't it be great if we could 
just invent something that could pull carbon dioxide out of the air. 
Well, we actually have that already. It is called a tree. Growing trees 
is a very effective strategy in addressing carbon pollution.
  Of course, there are issues related to how we manage our forests and 
making them more resilient to forest fires, where they are less likely 
to burn and emit carbon. Certainly, there is how we farm and how we 
take care of other types of lands, including peat restoration and 
coastal restoration.
  Those are our five questions for this edition, episode 7, of the 
Senate Climate Disruption Quiz. These questions were ripped from the 
headlines in regard to the biggest test facing human kind on this 
planet. It is up to us in this generation to act.
  We are the first generation to experience this enormous range of 
impacts from carbon pollution and a warming planet, and we are the only 
generation that is able to head off disaster ahead by acting quickly 
now. We are racing the clock. There is no time to spare. So stay 
engaged and do all you can to help take this on.
  Meanwhile, as we learn more about technology and about the planet, 
all in the near future, I will bring you Climate Disruption Quiz 
Episode 8.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Johnson). The Senator from Connecticut.