### Testimony to Federal EPA on Carbon Pollution Standard Thursday, May 24, 2012 Although I am now a small business consultant in Chicago, I have a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University ofWisconsin. I also did postdoctoral studies at Cornell, University ofBritish Columbia, and University ofWashington. I was not a climatologist, but I do have formal training in physics and chemistry.

I first heard about the idea ofclimate change in the late 1980s when I still worked in science. At the time Iremember Ithought the idea was interesting, but I was not worried since it seemed so far off. But overthe past 25 years I have followed the debate, and I have become increasingly concerned. The scientific evidence is nowoverwhelmingthat
we are affecting the earth's climate through burningfossil fuels, deforestation, and other practices.

For approximately 800,000 years, the global average carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere was below 300 PPM. Beginning approximately 250 years ago, roughly coinciding with the start ofthe industrial revolution, carbon dioxide began increasing. The level now stands at about 393 PPM. In an early paper, Dr. James Hansen estimated the safe level for carbon dioxide was about 450 PPM. Then a few years ago, based on a detailed look at historical data from ice core samples and other sources, he revised his estimate downward from 450 to 350. This threshold of350 PPM is nowacceptedby most scientists as the maximum level at which ourearth's climate is stable.

We are now43 PPM above this level, and climbing every year. Furthermore, the rate of increase is itselfincreasing. In the 1960sthe average rate ofincrease was I PPM per year. Today the average yearly increase is over 2 PPM. At some point, carbon emissions will reach a tipping point, where the rate ofincrease goes out ofcontrol. The pointwhere this will happen is not certain. But ifit does happen, civilization as we knowit will be in danger from rising sea levels, violent storms, flooding, droughts, and species extinctions due to loss ofnatural habitats. The tipping point may be as little as 50 years from now if
we continue on ourpresent course.
While there is strong evidence that climate change is being caused by man, and it is getting worse, ourcountry is not addressingthe core problem in a meaningful way. The Carbon Pollution Standardwould be an important step in the right direction. It will either force new coal power plants to invest in newtechnologies to reduce carbon emissions, or change to lower carbon intensive power sources. The ruling will effectively increase demand for wind, solar, and energy efficiency.

I live in a high-rise condo along Lake Shore drive in downtown Chicago. Over the past few years the weather here has become more extreme. Higher wind speeds, more violent thunderstorms, warmer days and nights, especially during the spring and fall. This past winter was one ofthe warmest in Chicago history, and in March we broke several records for high temperatures.-----------------------------------

I grewup onthe east coast and have friends across the United States. No matter where I go, peopletell me stories about howthe weatheris getting crazy.
The fossil fuel industry will fight everynewregulationproposed bythe EPA. They will say this regulation will destroyjobs. But what they will not sayis that it should lead to
newjobs and evennew industries. Studies showthat new coal powerplants create fewer jobsthan solarpowerplants or wind turbines. The CarbonPollution Standard should lead to a net increase injobsin our country. By helping to level the playing field for non-fossil fuels, it will begin to reduce our country's carbon emissions, which will inturnhelp slow down climate change.

The effect ofincreasing carbondioxide in the atmosphere is notjusta local or a regional problem. Itis a global problem. The United States is still the world's economic leader. We mayhave lost ground recently during the recession, but we can recover. The Carbon Pollution Standard will help us get oureconomybackon trackby shifting investments toward low carbonenergy sources, leading to newtechnologies and newjobs. This is not justgood for the environment; it is good for our economy.
Andrew Clarke Chicago, IL 312-498-4071