Support the GOP in De-Funding the IPCC?

With the GOP takeover in congress, the party has stronger power to push its party values and agenda forward.   The GOP has a long list of spending cuts it would like to make.  Will the GOP suggested spending cuts make it into the budget?  Perhaps the more relevent question is, should the IPCC be de-funded by the United States Federal Government alltogether?  And if so, should we as sustainability folk support such a position? The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  Although it does not create its own research, it reviews and assesses studies related to climate change around the world.  During the past couple weeks, there has been an uproar in the sustainability community over rescinding funding the IPCC. President Obama has sent his budget to congress.  The Congressional Budget Office is expected to submit its report to GOP lead Budget Committees tomorrow.  Will the GOP have the final say on de-funding the IPCC? We could criticize the GOP for not wanting to do anything about climate change. But the GOP do not even believe in human induced climate change. Why would folks in the GOP do something about it they don’t even believe in it? We could oppose the GOP for not believing in human induced climate change itself. But it is difficult to sway anyone persons belief system (including our own). What arguments haven’t the GOP yet heard? Rather than criticize and oppose, let us empathize and support the GOP. Let me explain. Let us focus on a core of value of the GOP, fiscal conservatism. In its simplest form, fiscal conservatism means no deficit spending and a balanced budget. In other words, don’t spend more than you take in. In its more strict form, fiscal conservatism is not spending beyond the bounds of the Constitution. Given the current budget deficit, de-funding the IPCC is consistent with either form of fiscal conservatism. So there is really no surprise that the GOP would desire to take such action. However, instead of ridiculing the GOP, let us not only support the GOP in their fiscal conservatism, but hold them up to their own standard. Urge the GOP to cut oil and coal subsidies as well. These are huge culprits to carbon output. Press the GOP to cut subsidies to developing corn ethanol, as it is not a sustainable source of energy. Or better yet, encourage the GOP to no longer fund corporations with taxpayer dollars, a true separation of corporation and state. Doing so is consistent with fiscal conservatism. For once, it may be time to join forces and champion the GOP’s fiscally conservative position in this budget fight.  It may sound counterintuitive to support de-funding the IPCC, but perhaps staying true to the fiscally conservative position across the board could lead us one step closer to a sustainable planet.