March 2011

STATEMENT BY THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST UNITED NATIONS OFFICE

THE UU-UNO SUPPORTS THE EPA

Comment on the GHG NSPS for Petroleum Refineries [Utilities]

Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0089 [0090]

The UU-UNO unequivocally supports and defends the US Environmental

Protection Agency EPA for its sensible risk-management actions against the
increasingly severe impacts of global warming and climate change, while
promoting green energy. This is consistent with the 2006 Unitarian Universalist
Association’s Statement of Conscience on Global Warming / Climate Change.

In February 2010 the U.S. Department of Defense reported to Congress:

“Climate-related changes are already being observed in every region of the
world. Climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will
increase the spread of disease, and may spur mass migration.” Global
peace is threatened. There is no doubt that recent global warming, which exists
and is causing increasingly severe impacts, is due to human activity. Ethical
imperatives include social justice (those that will be hit hardest contributed least
to the problem) and generational equity (the well-being of our children and future
generations). The United States will be hit very hard by global-warming impacts
along with the rest of the world unless there is concerted risk-management action
– there is no safe haven. We need to act!

The EPA has the responsibility under a Supreme Court ruling to regulate
greenhouse gas emissions, because the EPA sensibly ruled that these gases
pose a threat to public health, made on the basis of massive scientific evidence.
Because Congress has been unable to pass climate legislation, EPA regulation
is the only national means to combat global warming.

There is also a positive side of EPA regulation, which will help the move toward
green energy that will spur our future economy, increase US competitiveness,
and create jobs.

Yet, legislation and budget attacks are being pushed by fossil fuel interests and
right-wing politicians to block the EPA from taking necessary responsible steps to
limit carbon pollution and stimulate the future green economy.

The UU-UNO supports and defends the EPA.

Date = 3/7/2011 03:53:00 PM