Senator Carper Urges Congress to “Wake Up for Climate Action”

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Senate and House colleagues to speak on the need for lawmakers address climate change. The event, called “Wake up Congress for Climate Action,” was organized by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), co-chairs of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, in the wake of the release of the National Climate Assessment report, which outlined the immediate impacts of climate change in Delaware and throughout the United States.

Senator Carper addresses the rally (more photos available for press use on Flickr)

Senator Carper’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

“I believe climate change exists and we are living on borrowed time. The longer we wait to address this issue, the more damaging and expensive it becomes.

“As we debate what to do, our communities are feeling the first taste of the harmful effects of climate change through droughts and flooding. Coastal communities, like those in Delaware, are especially vulnerable as the oceans slowly rise and more extreme storms like Superstorm Sandy hit our coasts.

“Climate change is costing our country dearly – not just in lives negatively impacted – but in true economic costs. In fact, last year for the first time in its history, the Government Accountability Office listed climate change as one of the biggest fiscal risks facing our country in its annual high risk report.

“Some of my colleagues say we can’t afford to address climate change at this time.  I believe we can’t afford inaction. For the people in low-lying states, like my state of Delaware, it is particularly critical that we address this crisis.  We must act now on climate change. For the people suffering severe droughts year after year, we can no longer afford to wait.  We must act now on climate change. For our next generation, we can no longer afford to wait.  We must act now on climate change.”