| January 11, 2009 |  |
Coalition to Senate: Oppose Murkowski Attack on Clean Air Act
A coalition of nearly 40 environmental, science and public health organizations today sent a letter to senators urging them to vote against Sen. Lisa Murkowski's (R-Alaska) attempt to strip the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of its authority to regulate global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act. The 37 organizations represent millions of Americans nationwide.
"This attack on the Clean Air Act," the letter states, "would put public health at risk and jeopardize long-overdue action to hold the biggest polluters accountable, reduce America's oil dependence, and jump-start a vibrant clean energy economy."
Sen. Murkowski's proposal would not only block the EPA from issuing regulations requiring the nation's largest power plants and factories to reduce their emissions, it would also roll back new clean vehicle standards. These standards are supported by the auto industry and public interest advocates. In 2020, the new standards will save 1.3 million barrels of oil per day, cut U.S. global warming emissions by 215 million metric tons, and save consumers more than $32 billion at the gas pump.
When the Supreme Court ruled that heat-trapping gases qualified as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, it directed the EPA to take appropriate regulatory steps, including a review of whether climate change endangers public health and welfare. The letter criticizes Sen. Murkowski for trying to inappropriately inject Congress into scientific decisions.
Sen. Murkowski's own constituents are experiencing the devastating effects of global warming first-hand. Last month, the Union of Concerned Scientists videotaped a resident of Shishmaref, a coastal town in northwest Alaska, which is suffering from rising sea levels. Brice Eningowuk, who was attending the international climate change conference in Copenhagen, explains why his town is in jeopardy in a 5-minute interview.
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.
