With the release Tuesday of the White House’s new report on climate change, CNN’s Crossfire turned its attention to the issue of what can be done to mitigate the negative affects of a warming planet. And just as he did when he debated Creationist Museum founder Ken Ham, Bill Nye “the Science Guy” found himself going head-to-head with someone who rejects the basic science of the issue.

Nye was on the show to debate the Heritage Foundation’s Nicolas Loris, but from the beginning of the show, he was facing off with conservative host S.E. Cupp, urging her to focus on “facts” before she had finished asking her first question about the Obama administration’s “scare tactics.”

Confronted with polling numbers that say only 36% of Americans think climate change is a serious threat, Nye said politicians and leaders need to focus on the economic impact of events like Hurricane Sandy, which the administration has done with its report. When Loris, who insisted he’s not a “denier,” pushed back on the science Nye was citing, he accused the economist of willingly ignoring the facts.

Cupp proceeded to accuse Nye of “bullying” anyone who disagrees with the climate science. “The science group has tried to shame anyone who dares question this,” she said. Later, she compared climate change to issues like entitlement reform and heart disease and said to Nye, “I want you to look me in the eye and tell me in good conscience that climate change is our most urgent, number one priority right now.”

Nye paused before looking Cupp in the eye and saying, “Climate change is our most urgent, number one priority right now.”

Watch video below, via CNN:

[Photo via screengrab]

— —

>> Follow Matt Wilstein (@TheMattWilstein) on Twitter

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]