First Name | Chris |
---|---|
Last Name | Carney |
Email Address | ccarney@ucsusa.org |
Affiliation | Union of Concerned Scientists |
Subject | CA Scientists & Engineers on Advanced Clean Cars & Reducing Heat-Trapping Emissions |
Comment | The statement below represents the comments of 159 scientists and engineers who live or work in California. Scientists have published and have a Ph.D. or are in a Ph.D. program. Engineers have a Ph.D., or a master’s degree with at least five years of career experience, or a bachelor’s degree with at least ten years of career experience. All signers have expertise relevant to our understanding of climate change, its impacts, or solutions. Please see the attached document (pdf) to view the full list of signers. ************** An Open Letter from California Scientists and Engineers on Advanced Clean Cars and Reducing Heat-Trapping Emissions We write to urge California leaders to seize the opportunity, once again, to demonstrate that the nation can begin to meet the climate challenge by adopting strong policies that will further reduce heat-trapping emissions from cars and trucks. The causes and risks of climate change are clear and well documented. In May 2010, a report by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences concluded “Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for—and in many cases is already affecting—a broad range of human and natural systems.” Global average surface temperatures have increased at a rate of 0.7°C (1.3°F) per century since 1900, with the rate accelerating to approximately 0.16°C (0.29°F) per decade since 1970(1), and impacts are now being observed worldwide.(2) These temperature changes, driven by human-caused emissions, have locked in further changes, such as sea-level rise that intensifies coastal flooding and dramatic changes in snowpack that risk disrupting water supplies in the western United States.(3) If emissions continue unabated, California will face continued warming with more temperature extremes, faster sea-level rise, increasing risks and cost for agriculture, and severe public health challenges for at-risk populations.(4) The longer we wait to bring down emissions, the harder and more costly it will be to limit climate change impacts and to adapt to those that cannot be avoided. We already have the solutions and technology to start significantly reducing emissions. Informed by the threats to California from climate change, the state has set a long-term goal to reduce its heat-trapping emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Cars, trucks, and other mobile sources account for nearly 40 percent of these emissions in California. (5) We urge you to adopt policies that will reduce heat-trapping emissions from cars and trucks over the next decade and beyond, while promoting advancements in vehicle and fuel technologies that will create jobs and will be needed to meet the state’s long-term emissions reductions goals. Signed, SEE ATTACHMENT FOR LIST OF SIGNERS ******************** This letter may also be downloaded at http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/ca-scientist-letter.pdf |
Attachment | www.arb.ca.gov/lists/leviiighg2012/45-ca-scientist-letter.pdf |
Original File Name | ca-scientist-letter.pdf |
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2012-01-25 10:34:24 |
If you have any questions or comments please contact Clerk of the Board at (916) 322-5594.