Self-described climate contrarian tells Pa. House committee global warming alarm is overblown

Gregory Wrightstone’s testimony on what he called climate myths Wednesday ended up drawing a chuckle from a vampire, fairy, and other mythical creatures who gathered to protest a self-described climate contrarian’s take on the global warming.

Wrightstone, a geologist and self-published author with ties to the natural gas industry, was invited to speak to the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee by its chair Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler.

Morning everyone, I'm at a House Environmental Resources and Energy hearing to debunk climate change myths. Here are some mythical creatures who showed up. Sadly, they confiscated the Grim Reaper's scythe. pic.twitter.com/QW31j3DUlX

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) March 27, 2019

In an hour of testimony and questions, Wrightstone claimed that while human activity is heating the Earth, the potential consequences are not dire as the vast majority of governmental and scientific studies have concluded.

Wrightstone starts his testimony by saying he is here to undercut the notion that "changing climate is primarily influenced by man made green house gases" and that those changes are having a negative impact.

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) March 27, 2019

Wrightstone cited increased plant growth and the benefits of a warm climate as opposed to past ice ages while making his case for carbon.

“CO2 has increased. I will argue that’s a good thing,” Wrightstone said after the hearing. “Carbon dioxide increases have been benefitting Earth and humanity.”

Besides increasing global temperatures, built up atmospheric carbon also leads to ocean acidification, which can disrupt ocean ecosystems and threaten people who rely on the sea for food.

Currently, the Earth’s atmosphere is above 400 parts per million carbon. The previous high in recent geological history was 300 parts per million roughly 350,000 years ago, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

While increased carbon is good for plant growth, a recent study found rice grown in a high carbon environment is less nutritious.

Micheal Mann, a Penn State professor of atmospheric science, said in an email that Wrightstone’s acceptance of warming but attempt to portray it as a good thing is an example of a “kindler, gentler form of denial” of climate science.

“The science of climate change impacts … shows that climate change is having very detrimental impacts on us now, many of which are playing out in real time, and these impacts will become far worse,” he wrote.