Lies

Don’t Believe Trump

The Administration’s climate reports follow the same modus operandi President Donald Trump applies universally: issue an unending stream of lies and half-truths in order to brainwash, create doubt and confusion, and so defuse opposition to the lame and counterproductive policies he espouses.

His climate reports belong in the same realm as accusations of Haitians barbecuing people’s pets, that the Biden administration spent millions on making transgender mice, and that renewable energy is more expensive and harmful to the environment than coal — in the trash.

They are part intentional disinformation and part self-inflicted delusion. Trump is the latest in a long line of autocrats throughout history to take advantage of the unfortunate human characteristic of believing outlandish accusations and assertions in the absence of any supporting evidence.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: never believe a single word Trump says. Do extensive research on your own to find the facts.

Published by the Austin American-Statesman on September 6, 2025, in Letters//Opinions

Mark Warren, Member, Citizen’s Climate Lobby Austin

Science will prevail

Science Will Prevail

Re: Aug. 31 article, “Scientists: Climate is deeply flawed”

It is beyond mind boggling and painful to see what the Trump administration wants the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to repeal climate regulation and cherry-pick scientific findings to create doubt on proven facts, no matter what it does to the health of people.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. had an average of 3.7 events per year with a loss of more than $1 billion between 1980 and 1989. That shot up to an average of 18 events per year between 2013 and 2022. Each such event wrecks lives and livelihoods, and 2.3 million Texans who live within a half mile of oil and gas operations would be at a greater risk of methane pollution without these rules.

If rescinded, such irresponsible and cynical actions would be devastating for many. You can oppose repeal of “endangerment finding” of 2009 by submitting comments by September 21 through the EPA website.

Peer-reviewed research by scientists will stand the test of time.

Published by the Austin American-Statesman on September 6, 2025, in Opinions//Letters

Kalpana Sutaria, Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin, Architect, Author, and an environmental advocate dedicated to tackling Global Warming Challenges

Kalana Sutaria Book from Atmosphere
Science

Science Underpins the Work of Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Citizens’ Climate Lobby bases its work and policy initiatives on scientific evidence. In fact, you can study and learn about the science behind climate change on the organization’s website in the section, “Climate Change Science.” Topics range from greenhouse gases to the role of carbon dioxide, ozone to the impact of human beings on the climate. Citizens’ Climate Lobby provides this information free of charge as a public service.

Another insightful training CCL provides is called, “Weather Attribution Science,” and it focuses on the background behind attribution science – the process of quantifying the contribution of global warming to extreme weather – and other events. The training includes a discussion about the process for connecting climate change with extreme weather events.

Extreme weather is a significant concern for citizens of the State of Texas. As Texas Tribune laments, “Texas weather extremes likely to become normal, scientists say” (2024). Alejandra Martinez and Yuriko Schumacher report, “Climate scientists and academics say that as emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases continue to push temperatures higher, severe weather in the state is likely to worsen. They add that Texas will likely see a growing gap between wet parts of the state and dry parts as climate change alters precipitation patterns and warms oceans.” You can also listen to the article by click on the link above.

More recently, on May 3, 2025 Guardian US shared, “Scientific societies to do climate assessment after Trump administration dismissed authors.”

Two major US scientific societies have announced they will join forces to produce peer-reviewed research on the climate crisis’s impact days after Donald Trump’s administration dismissed contributors to a key Congress-mandated report on climate crisis preparedness.

On Friday, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) said that they will work together to produce over 29 peer-reviewed journals that will cover all aspects of climate change including observations, projections, impacts, risks and solutions.

The collaboration comes just days after Trump’s administration dismissed all contributors to the sixth National Climate Assessment, the US government’s flagship study on climate change. The dismissal of nearly 400 contributors had left the future of the study in question.

We are delighted to see the good work continue. Factual information, rather than gossip and misinformation, are the best way to make qualified, realistic and informed decisions when it comes to understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change, and to protecting the citizens of the State of Texas.

Megan Johnson wrote for Harvard T. H. Chan, “Stopping Misinformation: Scientists and Medical Professionals are Important Players in Communicating Reliable Information” (2025). She observes, “In a highly complex information ecosystem, news travels fast. Whether it’s dispersed through traditional news publications, social media, or fringe outlets, the news can get warped. That’s why communicators are trying to find the best ways to share their messaging accurately and promptly.”

It is great to see high level training being provided to the science community to help them deal with misinformation and to respond quickly. It would be great to see an educational program developed for the public as well. In the meantime, be sure to sign up on the Citizens’ Climate Lobby website for the fact- and science-based trainings discussed above.

Check out our Bluesky feed @cclatx!

One thing the Austin Chapter of CCL has learned since joining Bluesky during the final months of 2024, is that many scientists are active on the platform. You can find us at @cclatx.bluesky.social, and we do share scientific updates in addition to our own organizational information. If you are interested in science and the facts behind climate change, Bluesky is the place to be!

Once you join Bluesky, look under “Discover” and follow hashtags like #Science #Climate Science #Climate Politics #Climate Change Sciences #Climate Crisis #Climate & Sustainability #Climate Adaptation and more. You can also follow “Lists” like “Climate Science, Impacts and Solutions.” Katharine Hayhoe has several “starter packs” that help you quickly identify influential scientists to follow. Among them are, “US National Nature Assessment Authors,” “Climate Justice,” “Climate + Finance” (and more). Our experience on Bluesky has been terrific and we learn a lot every time we “log in.”

Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence.

Louis Pasteur, French scientist (1822-1895)

Listen to the scientists when reforming the grid

Re: March 31 article, “Texas House approves reforms to state power grid in aftermath of February winter storm.”

The catastrophic mismanagement of our electric grid in February was the most devastating event that I have experienced in my 45 years here. I couldn’t believe it was possible to lose electricity for 77 hours in the U.S.

As Asher Price noted, the hearings and media coverage revealed a deep information gap between utility board rooms, state grid control rooms and Texans in their darkened living rooms.

Our lawmakers have to be transparent about their plans to address the short- and long-term crises. The short term to winterize the grid with adequate funding and management of the power grid that puts Texans in the center and not the regulators in control rooms.

They must listen to the Texas climate scientists’ warning on changing climate and an urgent need to debate thoughtful policies to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Texans want leaders to transition to clean energy.

Kalpana Sutaria

Austin American-Statesman

April 5, 2021

As with COVID, numbers don’t lie regarding climate

The Republican Secretary of State of Georgia Brad Raffensperger said, “I live by the motto that numbers don’t lie. I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct. The numbers reflect the verdict of the people …. ”

The numbers keep climbing when it comes to infections, hospitalizations and number of deaths due to COVID-19. Every few days, we reach the same death toll as the Sept. 11 attack. Yet there is no national strategy to combat this virus.

Numbers don’t lie when it comes to the climate crisis. Harmful emissions are rising, killing 100,000 Americans every year and affecting the health of many more who suffer from environmental degradation.

Votes have been counted and the American people have spoken that we need to move quickly to find solutions for the COVID-19 crisis and climate change.

There is no way around these facts. Lives matter.

Kalpana Sutaria

Austin American-Statesman

December 4, 2020