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| HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT | Climate Change | ||
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Bipartisan GROUP OF FORMER EPA ADMINISTRATORS CALL FOR
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Caps The group of former Administrators met in Washington to celebrate the EPA's 35th anniversary. The only living individuals who have held the post who were not included in the group were Mike Leavitt, currently serving in the Bush Administration as Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Douglas M. Costle, who served in the Carter Administration and could not attend for health reasons. The remaining former Administrators unanimously agreed that emissions caps are essential in combating climate change. "[Climate change] is a major disaster for the world," said Russell Train, who was Administrator under Presidents Nixon and Ford from 1973-1977. "We need leadership, and I don't think we're getting it. To sit back and just push it away and say we'll deal with it sometime down the road is dishonest . . . and self-destructive." Lee M. Thomas, President Reagan's Agency head from 1985-1989, added: "You've got to put an international scheme in place that says 'We're going to start action today' and periodically we're going to review these things and see if we need to tighten things or loosen them. You can't wait until you have certainty on these issues. Then it's way too late." Carol M. Browner, the only Administrator present to have served in a Democratic administration, said that the former Administrators' consensus is "a testament to the reality of the issue and a recognition that it's time to do something." The current EPA Administrator, Stephen Johnson, brushed off
his predecessors' criticism. The Bush Administration long questioned the reality
of human-caused climate change; today, President Bush acknowledges the problem
but refuses to limit greenhouse gas pollution. |
Commentary
+ Warming Globally, Acting Locally Kyoto Protocol + Kyoto Protocol and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Global Climate Change |
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