AB 32 and Other Environmental Protection Measures Must Stay on Track

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Derek Walker, 916) 492-7169, dbwalker@edf.org          
Jesus Mena, 415-293-6097, jemena@edf.org 

(Sacramento – April 30, 2008) The legislature and the Governor must soundly reject a proposal to roll back environmental protections to address the state’s budget woes and continue their joint efforts to improve and protect California’s air quality, water quality and natural resources.
 
Environmental Defense Fund joined other groups in opposing the proposal put forth on Tuesday by a minority of Republicans and business leaders that urged delaying implementation of AB 32, the greenhouse gas reduction law adopted in 2006, because of budget constraints.
 
“Study after study has shown that the cost of inaction will be devastating to the economy and will set up our children and grandchildren for disaster,” said Derek Walker, acting director of the Environmental Defense Fund state climate campaign. “The public has said time and again that it wants California to continue its environmental leadership. A wide range of business leaders support bold action on global warming because they understand it will be a win-win for the economy and the environment.”
 
The proposal reflects a thorough misunderstanding of the impact of pollution and regulation in this state. Responsible assessments both by independent analysts and regulators in recent years have shown that the state’s air pollution costs its residents and businesses tens of billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, lost days at work, health costs and lost days at school. This doesn’t even take into account the human suffering. These costs were far higher than the costs of regulation.
 
“The world is watching. We cannot afford to wait, we cannot fail,” Walker said.
 
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One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund