Dr. James Hansen is the chief climate scientist for NASA and the director of its Goddard Institute for Space Studies. In 1988, Hansen testified before Congress that he felt climate change was being caused by human greenhouse gas emissions. In June 2008, Hansen again went before Congress, this time calling for oil executives to be charged with crimes against humanity and the environment.
Hansen made headlines again in February 2009, when a video surfaced featuring him supporting an upcoming protest billed as "the largest mass civil disobedience for the climate in U.S. history." The Capitol Climate Action protest of global warming was scheduled for March 2, 2009, in Washington D.C.FOX News: NASA's Chief Climate Scientist Stirs Controversy... (February 26, 2009) Official Site: Capitol Climate Action
James Hansen Quote
"We need to send a message to Congress and the president that we want them to take the actions that are needed to preserve climate for young people and future generations and all life on the planet."FOX News: NASA's Chief Climate Scientist Stirs Controversy... (February 26, 2009)
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
-
Name
James E. Hansen
-
Born
-
Birthplace
Denison, Iowa
-
Alma Mater
-
Fact:
B.A. in Physics and Mathematics, M.S. in Astronomy and Ph.D. in Physics
-
Occupation
Climate scientist
-
Fact:
Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies
-
1988
Testified before Congress on climate change
-
1996
Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
-
2005
-
2009
Urged Americans to "take a stand on global warming" in a video for the Capitol Climate Action protestYouTube Video: A Call to Action on Global Warming from Dr. James Hansen (Time: 1:41)
-
Fact:
The video was posted on the website capitolclimateaction.org
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
The Act prohibits federal employees "from participating in partisan political activity"FOX News: NASA's Chief Climate Scientist Stirs Controversy... (February 26, 2009)
-
Fact:
