President Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s top atmospheric office said in his confirmation hearing Wednesday that he agrees that humans are the primary cause of climate change, according to The Washington Post.
Barry Myers, CEO of the private weather forecasting company AccuWeather, was nominated last month to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) asked Myers if he agrees with the recent federal report that said humans are the primary driver of climate change, to which Myers responded affirmatively, the Post reported.
“I have no reason to disagree with the reports,” he said.
Myers then said “yes” when Markey asked, “So you agree humans are the main cause of climate change?”
{mosads}Myers’s position is a departure from other Trump administration science appointees. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have publicly questioned the science behind climate change, including the role of humans.
Another Trump environmental pick, Kathleen Hartnett White, once said that belief in global warming is “paganism” for “secular elites.”
Trump said throughout his campaign that global warming is a Chinese “hoax” and has filled his administration with climate change skeptics.