Scientist: Cap and trade will hurt Earth

Carbon dioxide emissions are good for Earth and don't cause global warming, a noted geologist and best-selling author is warning Congress.

Leighton Steward, author of "Fire, Ice and Paradise," is storming Capitol Hill to convince senators that a cap-and-trade energy bill could harm the environment by reducing the Earth's CO2 levels, according to U.S. News & World Report.

"I'm trying to kill the whole thing," he said. "We are tilting at windmills."

Steward, member of a nonprofit group called Plants Need CO2, plans to meet with several lawmakers this week.

Proponents of the global warming debate claim the planet is warming due to greenhouse gases produced primarily from fossil fuels.

Steward was one of many scientists who accepted that idea.

But now he is bringing Congress "a mountain of studies and scientific evidence that suggest CO2 is not the cause for warming," according to the report.

Not only does Steward argue that carbon dioxide does not cause warming, he says CO2 levels are already too low and that more, not less, is necessary to maintain plant growth.

(Story continues below)

Steward told U.S. News & World Report's Washington Whispers he believes a cap-and-trade plan to reduce emissions would mean considerable and unnecessary taxes for American taxpayers.

He also told the magazine that reduced CO2 levels would mean slowed food production. Plants grown at elevated CO2 levels produce larger fruit and take in less water, he said.

The scientist also declares CO2 is harmless to humans.

Steward noted that Earth's atmosphere has about 338 parts per million of CO2.

By contrast, he said, CO2 levels on Navy subs aren't considered dangerous until the air has 8,000 parts per million of CO2.

Related offers:

Glenn Beck's 'Common Sense' ... The case against an out-of-control government: Inspired by Thomas Paine

HYSTERIA: Exposing the secret agenda behind today's obsession with global warming

Read the book that started it all: Al Gore's "Earth in the Balance"

"Global Warming or Global Governance? What the media refuse to tell you about so-called climate change"

"The Sky's Not Falling! Why it's OK to chill on global warming"

"I'm pro-choice – on light bulbs" – Bumper sticker sends Congress message over its banning Edison's invention

Previous stories:

Shocker! Ice melt lowest in 30 years

Holdren warned of coming ice age

Obama's environmental czar started group targeting Beck

Global warming battle: Thar she blows!

2 out of 3 Americans oppose carbon taxes

Gore boasts: 'Global governance' coming with carbon tax

Gore boasts: 'Global governance' coming with carbon tax

Scientists to Congress: 'Sky is not falling'

EPA's own research expert 'shut up' on climate change

Scientists: Obama document is 'scare' tactic

Congressman: Consider science in energy tax debate

Obama plan: Paint roofs white to save world

Smoking gun leaves holes in CO2 debate

Look for your $10,000 energy tax bill

Greenhouse taxes to raise cost of 'everything'

EPA calls for new regs on greenhouse

Will a 'red' help blacks go green?

Energy costs being bumped $2,000 per household

Don't like CFLs? Ask your pet about them

Did Gore turn off his lights for 'Earth Hour'?

Shocker: 'Global warming' simply no longer happening

'Global warming' data called 'ancient astrology'

Obama's $300 billion-a-year climate-change plan

NASA official: 'Coal greatest threat to all life'

Obama reverses Bush policy on 'warming'

Is the Bible to blame for trashing Earth?

Report: Ice Age to blast Earth

Global warming dissenters dash scientific 'consensus'

2008: Coolest year of this century

Scientists abandon global warming 'lie'

Scientists find greenhouse gas hysteria to be a myth

Obama: Spike energy costs to make people go 'green'

Obama to name CO2 as pollutant

Global warming debate heats up

Enviro groups 'wolves in sheep's clothing'

U.N. raises own thermostat 5 degrees

Beware your children: They might be 'Climate Cops'

Gore forecasts ice cap meltdown within years

Top physics group exposes crack in warming 'consensus'