File:Sarah Sanders press conf-Nov 2018.png

White House: Federal climate change report 'not based on facts'

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders denounced a new climate-change report as "not data driven" and "not based on facts," sharpening the Trump administration's repudiation of the document crafted by 13 federal agencies.

Sanders denounced the National Climate Assessment during a Tuesday press briefing, defending President Trump's publicly expressed doubt about its warning of potentially severe ocean-level rises and associated economic costs.

"You have to look at the fact that this report is based on the most extreme modeled scenario, which contradicts long-established trends," Sanders said.'

Sanders added: "We think this is the most extreme version, and it's not based on facts. It's not data driven. We'd like to see something that is more data driven. It's based on modeling."

However, Sanders said Trump is committed to ensuring the country has "the safest, cleanest air and water."

The climate assessment, released Friday (November 23, 2018) was spearheaded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with assistance from other agencies, including NASA.

2018 / U.S. National Climate Assessment -- Federal Climate Change Report / U.S. Carbon Assessment

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