WASHINGTON - July 23 - In response to news today that the Senate will not take up climate legislation before the August recess, Center for Biological Diversity Executive Director Kierán Suckling issued the following statement:

“While strong climate legislation is clearly needed, the proposals under consideration in the Senate fell well-short of what is needed.  We are far better served by a science-based approach under the existing Clean Air Act, than by a bill that continues to subsidize and pander to the oil and coal industries and other polluters.

“Any bill truly aimed at dealing with global warming  must build upon – not gut – our existing foundation of environmental protections. And, importantly, it must achieve the greenhouse pollution reductions necessary to avert dangerous climate disruption. That means reducing carbon dioxide concentrations that currently stand at 392 parts per million to below 350 parts per million.  Nothing less will do.”