CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, has reached a
concentration of 400 parts per million this year. The concentration has not been this high in
millions of years, and the consequences could include rising sea levels, droughts in some
locations and floods elsewhere. Several years ago the Central Intelligence Agency noted that
climate change could produce massive population disruption and threats to our security.
President Obama recognizes that our country is a major producer of greenhouse gases, and
that we have a responsibility to the world to take corrective actions. The vast majority of
climate scientists agree.
But climate change has been called a "scam" by anti-science Republicans. They care more about
the short-term profits of greenhouse-gas producing industries. The GOP is working to weaken
protection for the air we breathe and the water we drink. Anti-environment Republicans are
trying to derail President Obama's nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency.
North Carolina Republicans want to deny the right of local governments to regulate high
volume fracking within our communities. They even withdrew fracking regulations so they
could be rewritten by industry representatives. GOP control of the North Carolina State House
and Legislature is likely to result in irreversible environmental damage.
Democrats care about the environment. Our Democratic elected officials care about our air and
water quality and our health. They deserve our support.
SENIOR DEMOCRATS
5-22-13