Testimony at the Hearing ofthe Environmental Protection Agency Carbon Pollution Hearing Washington, D.C.

- May 24, 2012 by SusanC. 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 happyto know thatthe EPA is taking seriously what appears to be one ofthe most crucial issues ofour day, whichis the impact ofclimate disruption causedby human-produced greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
I am wholeheartedly in favor ofAdministratorJackson's proposal to limit carbon pollution, a historic step forward in addressing climate change. While there are those who deny that continued use offossil fuels presents any problem for ourplanet, a wiser approach is, while hoping for the best, preparing for the worst. Just as with human bodies, a slight rise inthe temperature ofthe earth must be taken as a threat to the whole delicately balanced web oflife. Tipping points and feedback loops may meanthat we will reach points of no return and we will see increasing droughts, floods, rising seas, and extreme weather. And those least able to protectthemselves 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 neverceases to amaze me that self-identified "conservatives" do not take a cautious approachto risk assessment, when it comes to the future ofourhabitat as humans. Fortunately, the people ofthe U.S. are not fooled by the naysayers; arecent poll shows that the majority of us place a higherpriority on protecting the environmentthan even the economy andjobs. People understand that a thriving economy and goodjobs will be meaningless without clean air and water and a livable planet. Itis also clearthat there will be many "greenjobs" as we move into a sustainable future. So for the sake ofnotjustthe environment, but also peace and a stable economy, we need to stop the build-up ofcarbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
One otherpoint. Ihave been talking to Philadelphiaparents 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% ofasthma, people are usuallyonly told about individual solutions-- vacuuming, not smoking, not keeping pets, and so on. But asthma rates are particularly high in Philadelphia, affecting about 22% ofchildren, double the national rate. In some neighborhoods, therate is as high as 30%. Asthmarates among African Americanchildrenare higher than any other group and have risen by almost 50% in the last decade. And when I start asking people ofcolor, 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 carbonpollutionto bring these rates down. Having a friend with severe asthma has opened myeyes to the fear ofnot being able to breathe, and the lost school days and work days that result. Ihope the EPA will consider this and otherpublic health impacts and will get carbon pollution under control.