LEAGUE PUSHES OBAMA ON CLIMATE CHANGE

“If you don’t do it, it won’t get done.”

 Washington, D.C. – Today, the League of Women Voters sent a letter urging President Obama, to takes steps to lead the world in the face of the greatest environmental challenge of our generation:  climate change.  Specifically, the League asked the President to use his existing regulatory powers to control industrial carbon pollution from new and existing power plants.

“The world has known about climate change for decades, yet little has been done to address the issue,” said Elisabeth MacNamara, national League President.  “People are dying because of climate change.  Our families, our communities and our planet are all threatened by it.”

The League’s letter uses the President’s own words to make the point that action is needed now.

“Climate change is not a hoax. More drought and floods and hurricanes and wildfires are not a joke. They’re a threat to our children’s future. And we can do something about it.”

- President Barack Obama, September 2012

The League notes that past Congressional action on climate change has been stymied by special interests but that the President has the authority to take action himself, with his existing regulatory authority

“With the current gridlock in Congress, it seems impossible that any legislative action will be taken to protect our health and our planet.  President Obama, you can do this by yourself, without a second-guessing Congress or a nay-saying Supreme Court. In fact, the Supreme Court has already said that the Administration can move forward under the Clean Air Act to cut this life-threatening pollution,” MacNamara said.

“President Obama, if you don’t do it, it won’t get done,” concluded MacNamara. “If the United States doesn’t lead, the rest of the world cannot follow.”

Contact Kelly Ceballos at [email protected] to find out more or to schedule an interview.