Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has recently linked severe weather events and transportation crises to climate change. During an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Buttigieg discussed how climate change is affecting the transportation system, including increased turbulence on airplanes and extreme weather conditions.

Buttigieg mentioned that climate change is already having a visible impact, pointing to examples such as severe heat waves in the Pacific Northwest and more intense hurricane seasons. He also noted that turbulence has increased by about 15%, which requires a reevaluation of how to respond to these challenges.

However, Buttigieg’s comments have faced criticism from GOP lawmakers and climate analysts. Representative Aaron Bean of Florida, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, accused Buttigieg of politicizing weather and public transit issues instead of addressing real transportation challenges. Bean believes Buttigieg’s statements are out of touch with the concerns of working Americans.

NEW: Buttigieg’s Can’t Explain What’s Going On With EV Charging Stations

Margaret Brennan of CBS’s Face the Nation chuckled at Pete Buttigieg when he couldn’t account for why, despite the Biden administration allocating $7.5 billion for the project, only 7 or 8 electric vehicle… pic.twitter.com/hJ9bwRkjd6

— 🇺🇸 Larry 🇺🇸 (@InterStarMedia) May 26, 2024

Energy analyst Alex Epstein, author of “Fossil Future,” argued that Buttigieg’s climate policies, not climate change itself, are affecting transportation. Epstein criticized the EPA’s new pollution standards, which he believes effectively mandate electric vehicles and put undue strain on an already fragile electricity grid.

Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of the Heritage Foundation Center for Energy, Climate, and the Environment, suggested that the increase in recorded turbulence is due to the higher number of flights. She also argued that stopping all fossil fuel use in the United States would only minimally impact global temperatures by 2100. Furchtgott-Roth attributed the heightened awareness of in-flight issues to social media and improved connectivity on planes.

Pete Buttigieg on “Face the Nation this morning (YouTube clip)
Every year more Americans buy EV’s than the year prior….. The EV revolution will happen with or without the us (the US) and we got to make sure it is American led. Buttigieg goes on to defend tariffs on China.… pic.twitter.com/mQDNpnyXDN

— BoomerBiohacker (@WmBrackbill) May 26, 2024