| March 2, 2010 |  |
Scientists to Congress: Don’t Force the EPA to Ignore the Science, Global Warming Does Threaten Public Health
More than 500 scientists sent a letter to Congress yesterday, urging lawmakers to oppose House and Senate resolutions that would reverse the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) finding that global warming endangers public health. The letter was organized by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
"Because the EPA's finding is based on solid science, this amendment also represents a rejection of that science," the letter stated. "The EPA's endangerment finding is based on an exhaustive review of the massive body of scientific research showing a clear threat from climate change."
The 569 signatories pointed out that 18 U.S. scientific societies, the National Academy of Sciences, and 10 international scientific academies support the consensus view that the primary driver of climate change is human activity, specifically burning fossil fuels and destroying forests.
"These resolutions not only threaten public health, they would force Americans to spend more on gasoline by rolling back new vehicle standards that will save consumers billions of dollars at the gas pump" said Michelle Robinson, director of the Clean Vehicles Program at UCS. "Congress should be protecting public health and listening to the best science, not sending more money overseas for oil."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
