Frozen toes and polar vortexes aside, 2014 was the hottest year on record globally, according to recently released data from the Japan Meteorological Agency. In fact, 14 of the 15 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000. Bottom line: climate change is happening; it's as real as gravity. And among scientists studying the issue, an overwhelming majority have confirmed that human activity is what's driving the warmth.
But 131 representatives and 39 senators in the recently convened 114th Congress -- more than half of all congressional Republicans (including eight from California) -- aren't buying it, according to an analysis by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a liberal-leaning advocacy group. There are forty-two states with at least one representative who has publicly questioned or flat-out denied climate science. And unsurprisingly, most of these legislators have received significant funding from fossil fuel industries, in combined excess of $63 million. Nevertheless, See the full analysis here.
Roll over the map below, produced by CAP, to see how many senators and representatives in each state have gone on the record questioning the existence of climate change, how much fossil fuel ("dirty energy") money they've received and the number of climate-related disaster declarations in each state in the past four years. Click on each state for a list of the legislators and their specific statements.