Climate politics in the U.S. are heating up again–this time with a challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency, and its ability to regulate Carbon. This is hard-fought victory, only recently achieved, which would help the U.S. lower its sky-high emissions very efficiently. You may remember an effort on behalf of 350 and Center for Biological Diversity to urge the EPA to recogize 350 ppm as the safe cap on carbon.
Today, we’re joining forces with many organizations and individuals around the country who are urging US Senators to vote no on the proposed "Murkowsi Amendment," which would curtail the EPA’s efforts. Please take a look at the action alert below, and write a letter!
————
The Clean Air Act is under attack by big polluters and their allies in Congress. President Obama’s administration has moved forward with a process to enforce long-ignored provisions of the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act is the best tool we have to rebuild our economy with clean energy, and to protect our health and our climate from global warming pollution. But big polluters would rather protect their profits and they have friends in high places.
As early as Wednesday Jan. 20th, 2010 the Senate could vote on the “Murkowski amendment,” proposed by Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski. The amendment will prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from using the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide. She may attach the amendment as a “rider” on a bill that has nothing to do with climate. She’s also one of the top recipients of campaign contributions from oil companies and electric utilities. This amendment is all about letting fossil fuel polluters keep up business as usual.
The vote is expected to be close and many organizations and their supporters are banding together to defeat the amendment. We need your help: Write to your Senators now and urge them to vote against Murkowski’s big polluter amendment. This link will take you to the website of Friends of the Earth, one of the partners in this effort, and you’ll be able to send your message from there.