NASA administrator at odds with scientists

WASHINGTON, May 31 (UPI) -- Global warming is a trend but does not necessarily need to be fixed or stopped, The United States' top space official said Thursday.

"I have no doubt that a trend of global warming exists," said National Aeronautics and Space Administration chief Michael Griffin. "I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with.

"To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change."

NASA scientist James Hansen took exception to Griffin's assessment.

"It's an incredibly arrogant and ignorant statement," Hansen told ABC News. "It indicates a complete ignorance of understanding the implications of climate change."

NASA's chief spokesman, David Mould, said Griffin's remarks were intended to show the space agency's role in assessing the environmental issue.

"NASA is providing the vast majority of the data on global climate. We analyze some of the data," Mould said. "But the policies beyond the analysis of the data, he was trying to say, are outside the scope of NASA's mission. Others, including Congress, will decide that."