Carper Joins Science, Environmental and Wildlife Advocates to Call for Urgent Action on Climate Change

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (D-Del.), spoke to an at-capacity crowd of students, scientists, environmental advocates and congressional staff about the urgent need for congressional action on climate change. The briefing, highlighting the most recent National Climate Assessment and International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) reports on the catastrophic impacts of climate change, was hosted by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

Senator Carper was introduced by NWF President and CEO Collin O’Mara, former secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

For a full video of Senator Carper’s remarks, click HERE.

Below are excerpts from Senator Carper’s remarks, as prepared for delivery.

“Scientists are no longer asking if climate change is happening, but, rather, ‘how bad will it be?’ And the numbers and the facts don’t lie—it will only get worse if we do nothing. The reality of climate change is scary for a coastal state like Delaware, which is the lowest lying state in our country. Our state is sinking, and the oceans are rising. That’s not a good combination.

“But it doesn’t matter if you are from a coastal state or from a landlocked state, if you care about public health or the environment, or if you care about our economy or national security. The fact is, every person living in this country will eventually see or experience the consequences of climate change. Most are already affected by it today. As I see it, we have two options: we take up this fight and get serious about addressing and adapting to climate change, or we stick our heads in the sand and do nothing, threatening the future of our children and our grandchildren.”

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