Commemorating Earth Day 2006

COMMEMORATING EARTH DAY 2006 -- HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF (Extensions of Remarks - April 27, 2006)

* Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, Saturday marked the 36th annual Earth Day, a day set aside for reflection, education, and action on the impact of human beings on our planet. Although it is certainly important to celebrate the rich diversity of nature with our families and communities, my greatest hope for the Earth is that my children's children will not have to observe an Earth Day. Instead, I look forward to a future when concern for the environment is part of each decision our country makes, rather than only a matter we address one day each year on a date set aside to make us consider the impact we are having on our surroundings.

* While the front pages of our newspapers routinely carry stories on the degradation of our natural resources, environmental issues have yet to rise to a top priority in Congress. Nonetheless, the decisions we make today will profoundly impact the way we live for years and generations to come. Indeed, our stewardship of the environment is inextricably tied to our economic security and growth.

* This is not news to the American people. Over the last 20 years, more Americans have said that environmental protection is a high priority for the Nation. Nearly three in five Americans are active in or sympathetic to the environmental movement, but most believe the government has a negative, or at best negligible, impact on these efforts.

* One area in which the Federal Government has failed to lead is global warming. A recent Gallup poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans worry about the greenhouse effect, up from just over half in 2004. Eighty-three percent believe that global warming will become a problem for the U.S. and 57 percent feel it poses a very serious threat to the world. And, Mr. Speaker, 68 percent of our fellow citizens believe the Federal Government should be doing more to combat it.

* The science of climate change has become clear and alarming. NASA recently confirmed that 9 of the last 10 years have been the warmest since modern records began in 1861, with 2005 topping the list. Much of this rise can be explained by a 35 percent increase over preindustrial levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial production.

* Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the current levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere will cause the Earth's temperature to reach its highest point since the end of the Ice Age some 9,000 years ago. Average global temperatures could rise by 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. This would melt the polar ice caps, causing sea level to rise twenty or more feet, causing severe worldwide flooding that would put large parts of Florida and California underwater. Warmer weather will also lead to severe weather patterns that will contribute to food shortages, increase the spread and severity of disease, increase the damage and displacement from a range of natural disasters, and jeopardize billions of people around the world.

* In 2005, the economic costs of weather-related catastrophes have been estimated at more than $200 billion. As temperatures rise, so will this economic toll. Theextinction of millions of plant and animal species presents another priceless and irreversible toll of global warming.

* While some temperature rise is inevitable, most scientists still believe that concerted action can prevent the most apocalyptic consequences of climate change. The global nature of this challenge creates not only an obligation for the U.S., but also an opportunity. By conserving the resources we have and developing new, cleaner sources of energy, we will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, protect our wilderness, and purify our air, water, and soil. Taking the lead in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions will improve our economic security and prosperity today and for generations to come.

* New scientific findings highlight the urgency of addressing global warming and related environmental challenges. Fortunately, the innovative and enterprising spirit of the American people puts us in an ideal position to seize this opportunity. Together, we can change the headlines to reflect a more optimistic outlook for our planet while improving our own quality of life. The American people have made it clear that the environment should be on our agenda every day, not just Earth Day, and I hope that Congress will heed this appeal.

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