© 2024 Maine Public | Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

King Says Climate Change has Budget Implications

A panel of experts told senators Tuesday that climate change will have real budget implications for governments and individuals if carbon emissions are allowed to continue to grow. U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine agreed, but said the problem must be addressed globally.

"The big question here is, what is the rest of the world going to do?" King said. "I have a hard time telling people in Maine they are going to pay $6 for a gallon for gas if China and India do nothing."

King told other members of the Senate Budget Committee that he agrees as the world’s wealthiest nation, the U.S. should lead on the issue. He said it is encouraging that everyone on the panel agreed global warming is a real issue that needs to be addressed.

"Into the short term future, we’re in a crisis situation," King said. "It’s all about CO2 and the relationship with temperature and I think the data are pretty clear. Yes there has been a variation, but about the time we started burning fossil fuels in large quantities it goes up, very dramatically."

King says what needs to be crafted is a worldwide plan to reduce the carbon emissions that are causing the problem.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.