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Perdue, Zinke comment on climate report

Two members of the Trump cabinet have commented on the government’s recent climate change report.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says USDA is looking for ways to decrease greenhouse emissions.  “I’ve asked our department, you know, what can we do in the issue?  Whether climate change is man-made or not, what should we be doing?”

And, Perdue says U.S. greenhouse emissions have been going down since 2005, in part because of better farm practices.  “Those are the kind of things we’re doing, with technology of cover crops and better watershed protections of USDA, better farming practices, precision agriculture.  Less inputs and more outputs.  That’s what we’re about.”

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says he’s only seen the headline summaries of the report so far.  “I don’t discount anything until I’ve read it.  My philosophy?  Best science, best practices, greatest good, longer term.  That’s the American conservation ethic.”

Perdue and Zinke spoke to reporters after touring wildfire devastation in Paradise, California Monday.