Looking for a solution to global warming? Maybe start clear-cutting many of the world's forests, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [(R-CA)] says.

...

"Is there some thought being given to subsidizing the clearing of rainforests in order for some countries to eliminate that production of greenhouse gases?" the California Republican asked Todd Stern, the top U.S. climate diplomat and lead witness at the hearing. "Or would people be supportive of cutting down older trees in order to plant younger trees as a means to prevent this disaster from happening?"

Hey, good idea! Cut down trees (and then do what with them?) to eliminate C02 emissions!

The article notes that Rohrabacher is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs oversight subcommittee. What it doesn't note is that he also sits on the House Science committee, and is a member of the Energy and Environment subcommittee. Irony!

What does an actual scientist (ie. not a guy who plays one at the DC Lunkheaded Pensioner's Debate Club) think of this idea?

Jay Gulledge, a senior scientist at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, said Rohrabacher is correct that 80 to 90 percent of gross greenhouse gas emissions do come from nature, with humans producing the rest. But it's that small percentage that is changing the Earth's climate — not to mention that trees help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in huge quantities.

"How he's using it is totally off the wall," Gulledge said. "It's beyond the pale. It makes no sense."

Thought so.

I wonder who's paying Rohrabacher to advocate for cutting down old-growth rainforest trees...