Testimony at the Hearing of the Environmental Protection Agency 

Carbon Pollution Hearing 

Washington, D.C. - May 24, 2012 

by Susan C. Edwards, teacher and educational specialist 

Swarthmore, PA - sueedwards79@gmail.com 

Thank you for permitting me to speak to you today. I am a concerned citizen and Sierra Club volunteer, 

and I am happy to know that the EPA is taking seriously what appears to be one of the most crucial issues 

of our day, which is the impact of climate disruption caused by human-produced greenhouse gases in our 

atmosphere. 

I am wholeheartedly in favor of Administrator Jackson's proposal to limit carbon pollution, a historic step 

forward in addressing climate change. While there are those who deny that continued use of fossil fuels 

presents any problem for our planet, a wiser approach is, while hoping for the best, preparing for the worst. 

Just as with human bodies, a slight rise in the temperature of the earth must be taken as a threat to the whole 

delicately balanced web of life. Tipping points and feedback loops may mean that we will reach points of 

no return and we will see increasing droughts, floods, rising seas, and extreme weather. And those least 

able to protect themselves and their communities will be those already underserved and neglected. But as 

we have already begun to see, these extreme events can affect us all. So it never ceases to amaze me that 

self-identified "conservatives" do not take a cautious approach to risk assessment, when it comes to the 

future of our habitat as humans. 

Fortunately, the people of the U.S. are not fooled by the naysayers; a recent poll shows that the majority of 

us place a higher priority on protecting the environment than even the economy and jobs. People 

understand that a thriving economy and good jobs will be meaningless without clean air and water and a 

livable planet. It is also clear that there will be many "green jobs" as we move into a sustainable future. So 

for the sake of not just the environment, but also peace and a stable economy, we need to stop the build-up 

of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. 

One other point. I have been talking to Philadelphia parents at Home & School meetings, libraries, and 

recreation centers about the connection between asthma and clean air. While environmental factors are 

responsible for as much as 30% of asthma, people are usually only told about individual solutions--

vacuuming, not smoking, not keeping pets, and so on. But asthma rates are particularly high in 

Philadelphia, affecting about 22% of children, double the national rate. In some neighborhoods, the rate is 

as high as 30%. Asthma rates among African American children are higher than any other group and have 

risen by almost 50% in the last decade. And when I start asking people of color, it seems as if90% of 

people have someone with asthma among their family and friends. It's going to take a concerted effort to 

clean up our air by restricting carbon pollution to bring these rates down. Having a friend with severe 

asthma has opened my eyes to the fear of not being able to breathe, and the lost school days and work days 

that result. I hope the EPA will consider this and other public health impacts and will get carbon pollution 

under control.