Heller aligned with the climate skeptics, hustlers

Regarding Tony Heller’s op-ed piece in The New Mexican (“An environmentalist — and a climate change skeptic,” My View, March 19), a few clarifications might be helpful.

Heller cites a 2013 survey of the American Meteorological Society conference, and states “professional members … found that only 52 percent believe humans are primarily responsible for global warming.”

It’s worth noting that 27 percent of those same respondents believe climate change is a scam. The majority of its members are broadcasters, not scientists. Of the actual scientists attending the conference who have studied climate and published papers on the subject, the same poll showed 88 percent believe in human culpability. The author of the study subsequently published a paper condemning “selective” reporting of the results like Heller’s.

With regard to polling of scientists on the subject, he states, “No legitimate survey of scientists has ever come close to the 97 percent number. …” In fact, most studies among peerreviewed scientists confirm this percentage.

Proud of his insider status with the Trump administration, Heller claims there is “no conspiracy against science or the environment” by them. In fact, all mention of climate change has been scrubbed off the Environmental Protection Agency website, funding for research is under the knife and the leader of the Republicans thinks climate change is a hoax. Mr. Heller closes with the admonition that “science is about open discussion and debate. …” I could not agree more. It’s no wonder he’s found a home with this group of hustlers.