EPW Hearing Statement: “Road to Paris: Examining the President’s International Climate Agenda and Implications for Domestic Environmental Policy”

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a top Democrat on the Environment & Public Works Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, released the following statement regarding the committee’s hearing on the Obama Administration’s climate change agenda.

“The scientific evidence is clear – if we do not act soon to address the impacts of climate change, we’ll suffer dangerous blows to our environment and our economy. Furthermore, we know the price of action pales in comparison to the cost of doing nothing. The scientific findings are particularly concerning for low-lying coastal states like Delaware, which, in best case scenarios, may see increased intense storms and devastating flooding, and in worse case scenarios, may not remain above water.

“Since coming to the Senate, I have been a strong supporter of legislation to address climate change. Unfortunately, instead of coming to a compromise on climate change – Congress has remained at a stalemate. Since we have failed to act, I fully support this administration’s efforts to reduce our carbon footprint through common-sense regulations, such as those attempting to make our automobile fleet more efficient and decreasing pollution created by our power plants. Like President Obama, I see the effort to curb carbon emissions and climate change as a great opportunity for our economy, not a burden.

“However, climate change is not an issue one state or one nation can tackle alone. The developing and developed world must work together to address the impacts climate change has on global public health. Since the administration has retaken a leadership role in addressing climate change, other countries have followed. Countries that have been hesitant to make carbon reductions – like China and Brazil – are seeing the United States finally make real reductions in carbon pollution and have agreed to reductions of their own. I am hopeful the administration will continue to help drive the international community toward a broader global agreement in Paris this year, so that we can finally turn the corner on this growing problem.”

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