January, 07 2010, 01:30pm EDT
Proposed EPA Ozone Standard Based on Science, Not Politics, Science Group Says
Statement by Francesca Grifo, Union of Concerned Scientists
WASHINGTON
The Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has proposed a stricter standard for ground-level ozone pollution, which would replace a weaker standard set by the Bush administration.
Below is a statement by Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists:
"Score one for science. I'm thrilled that the EPA is depoliticizing this regulation and letting the science inform what the rule should be. The EPA is rightfully following the advice of its Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, a panel of independent experts -- advice the previous administration disregarded, putting at risk the health of millions of Americans.
"The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to base the standard solely on the best available scientific information, and the science shows the standard should be tightened. It's that clear-cut."
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
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Data from the first 11 months of 2024 reaffirmed that the globe is set to pass a grim mile stone this year, according to the European Union's earth observation program.
The E.U.'s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a report Monday that November 2024 was 1.62°C above the preindustrial level, making it the 16th month in a 17-month stretch during which global-average surface air temperature breached 1.5°C. November 2024 was the second-warmest November, after November of last year, according to C3S.
"At this point, it is effectively certain that 2024 is going to be the warmest year on record and more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level," according to a Monday statement from C3S. With data for November in hand, the service estimates that global temperature is set to be 1.59°C above the pre-industrial level for 2024, up from 1.48°C last year.
C3S announced last month that 2024 was "virtually certain" to be the hottest year on record after October 2024 hit 1.65°C higher than preindustrial levels.
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Under the 2015 Paris agreement, signatory countries pledged to reduce their global greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of keeping global temperature rise this century to 1.5ºC, well below 2°C above preindustrial levels. According to the United Nations, going above 1.5ºC on an annual or monthly basis doesn't constitute failure to reach the agreement's goal, which refers to temperature rise over decades—however, "breaches of 1.5°C for a month or a year are early signs of getting perilously close to exceeding the long-term limit, and serve as clarion calls for increasing ambition and accelerating action in this critical decade."
Additionally, a recent paper in the journal Naturewarned of irreversible impacts from overshooting the 1.5ºC target, even temporarily.
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Skepticism of the for-profit healthcare system from one of Trump's closest right-wing allies mirrors public support for Medicare for All, which comes from across the political spectrum.
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