It is no doubt that the US is falling way behind in science these days.  What is "the basic science of climate change"?  That there is causation between carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and temperature?  That changes in CO2 concentrations from about 250 parts per million (ppm) to 350 or 450 ppm will result in some certain number of degrees in average global temperature?  The reality is that we do not have much understanding on what influences the subtleties of climate.  Its become a screaming match with little real science behind it.

Regardless of any climate change we will continue to use fossil fuels.  There is nothing that has even been conceived that could even begin to replace the energy provided by fossil fuels.  If any group of people were to minimize their use of fossil fuels, they would be out competed, both socially and economically, by groups that continue full use. Over time, full use groups would grow in size and strength while others shrink of oblivion.