CHIVUKULA WELCOMES EPA'S MOVE TO FAST-TRACK CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION

CHIVUKULA WELCOMES EPA'S MOVE TO FAST-TRACK CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION
 
(SOMERSET) - Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula today welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency's move to fast-track climate change legislation.

The Obama administration today declared carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases as linked to climate change a danger to human health and welfare, setting the stage for regulation of  the emissions under federal clean air laws.

The announcement by the EPA comes after an earlier finding by the agency that high-atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases "are the unambiguous result of human emissions, and are likely the cause of the observed increase in average temperatures and other climate changes."

"The endangerment finding of greenhouse gases is a significant breakthrough in fast-tracking climate change legislation through the U.S. Congress," said Chivukula (D-Somerset). "Under the earlier administration, there was a lack of political will to fight climate change, but under President Barack Obama and his energy and environment team, including EPA chief Lisa Jackson, it appears we may have a national climate change bill before the end of the summer session."

If Congress fails to act, the endangerment finding empowers the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases.

Under the Clean Air Act, an endangerment finding is essential to enable the federal government to regulate climate-warming emissions like carbon dioxide following a 60-day comment period.

Two years ago, a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court empowered the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases if human health is threatened by global warming pollution.

"Am I surprised to see regulation of greenhouse gases at the national level near becoming a reality? It did seem difficult at first. But having seen the far reaching progressive policies that President Obama and his energy and environment team have implemented in less than 100 days, and the hundreds of billions of stimulus dollars allocated to energy and the environment, I expected action on climate change," Chivukula said.

The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee chairman sponsored the landmark Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program in which New Jersey is part of a 10-state compact - the first multi-state compact in the nation - to fight climate change.

RGGI implements the Global Warming Response Act that calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

The economic and social impact of placing limits on carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases are significant, ranging from requiring better fuel efficiency for automobiles to limiting emissions from power plants and industrial sources, changing the way the nation produces energy.

"This is a historic development," Chivukula said. "I look forward to working with my fellow lawmakers in New Jersey and the Corzine administration to support President Obama and Lisa Jackson in our bid to fight climate change."

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Contact:
Assemblyman Chivukula
Gita Bajaj
(973) 224-4851 cellular