Brown On Climate Change Denial: "Reductio Ad Absurdum"

California Gov. Jerry Brown fired up his rhetoric – and his Latin – to reassure scientists fearful of changes under President-elect Trump.

“Reductio ad absurdum – reduce to absurdity,“ the governor told thousands of American Geophysical Union scientists meeting in San Francisco Wednesday. “And when you do that, everybody sees the absurd path you’re on.”

The governor promised that California will defend its environmental policies. ”We've got the scientists, we've got the lawyers, and we're ready to fight!”

Pointing to speculation that the Trump administration could shift its focus away from satellites that observe Earth’s climate, Brown recalled his own advocacy for California launching a satellite during his first stint as governor.

“They called me Governor Moonbeam because of that!” he said, drawing laughter. ”I didn’t get that moniker for nothing! And if Trump turns off his satellites, California will launch its own damn satellite. We’re gonna collect that data!”

Brown’s remarks differed sharply from the more restrained tone he took last week, when he said he believed Washington would “come around” to the truth on climate change.