Heinrich: Climate Change Is Not Theoretical And Cannot Be Ignored

Senator Heinrich delivered opening remarks on the Senate floor to helped kick off the #Up4Climate discussion. At approximately 1:00 a.m. ET until 3:00 a.m. ET, Senator Heinrich delivered a floor speech and discussed the urgent need to reduce the devastating affects of climate change. 

Below are Senator Heinrich's opening remarks as prepared for delivery: 

As a member of the Climate Change Task Force I’m pleased to join my colleagues in calling for action on tackling one of our nation’s greatest challenges, and I thank Senator Whitehouse and Senator Schatz for their leadership.

Tonight we will illustrate that climate change is not theoretical and cannot be ignored.

We will discuss how sound science can be used to better understand and manage climate impacts.

And we’ll highlight the moral imperative we have in Congress to implement solutions.

In my home state of New Mexico we're seeing bigger fires, drier summers, more severe floods when it does rain, and less snowpack in the winter.

2012 was our nation’s second most extreme year for weather on record. In New Mexico, we experienced the hottest year on record.

Over the last four years alone, we have seen the two largest fires in New Mexico’s history.   

And the reality is, things are only going to get worse if we don’t act.

If we have any hope of reversing the effects of climate change -- and we truly must -- it’s critical that we embrace this challenge now and lead the world in innovation, efficiency, and clean energy. 

Whether for our national security, our energy independence, or our nation’s ability to compete in the global economy, our efforts and our solutions should be rooted in fact and driven by the best available science.

Through American ingenuity, we can slow the effects of climate change and create a more stable, healthier environment for future generations.