September, 15 2011, 02:40pm EDT
EPA Climate Rule Delay Part of Dangerous Trend
Statement by Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists
WASHINGTON
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it will delay climate change rules, just weeks after the White House postponed important ground-level ozone standards.
"Playing kick the can down the road with EPA rules is a dangerous game. The longer we wait, the more costly climate change will be.
"We're seeing a dangerous trend with the president first pulling the ozone rule, and now this. We're skeptical that politics didn't influence this decision. The EPA has been under incredible pressure from industry and anti-environmental members of Congress who are working overtime to block its efforts to protect Americans' health and well-being. President Obama needs to stand firm in the face of this pressure, and meet his responsibilities on clean air, public health and climate change."
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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