Scientists tell Trump to pay attention to climate change

A group of scientists is pushing President-elect Donald Trump to pay attention to the research behind climate change. 

{mosads}An open letter to Trump from 800 scientists on Tuesday knocked the president-elect for his long-stated disbelief in the scientific consensus behind climate change. 

The letter, released by Scientific American, encourages Trump to listen to scientists on climate change issues, and suggested he take a handful of steps to relieve their concerns over his presidency. 

“You have the support of the majority of companies, military leaders, scientists, engineers, and citizens to respond to the threats posed by climate change by reducing carbon pollution and expanding clean energy,” the letter said. 

“Many of America’s largest cities and states are already committed to doing so. We urge you to decide if you want your presidency to be defined by denial and disaster, or acceptance and action.”

The letter asked Trump to expand clean energy in the United States, reduce carbon pollution, invest in response efforts for extreme weather events, stay in the Paris climate agreement and acknowledge climate change is real and caused by human activity.

Trump’s opposition to climate science — he once tweeted that it is a “hoax” from the Chinese — has raised concerns among environmentalists in the U.S. and around the world who worry he will undo the climate work done under President Obama. 

Trump has vowed to block environmental regulations and said he wants to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate deal. Last month, Trump said he would have an “open mind” about the agreement, but days later his incoming chief of staff said Trump’s default position is that climate change is a “bunch of bunk.”