Renowned scientists call on U.S. Senate to protect communities and natural resources in the face of climate change

More than 150 scientists, including Thomas Lovejoy, Carl Safina, Barry Noon and Stuart Pimm say our natural resources can’t wait

WASHINGTON (07/13/2010) -

Summary:

• Climate change is already having dramatic impacts on wildlife and natural ecosystems.
• The science is clear that we must both reduce greenhouse gas pollutants as well as safeguard wildlife and natural resources already impacted by climate change.
• The U.S. Senate must pass comprehensive climate legislation that includes immediate, dedicated funding to help communities, wildlands and wildlife adapt to life in a warming world.

More than 150 leading researchers and science practitioners from across the country today sent a letter urging the Senate to pass comprehensive legislation this year that will both reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and begin to substantively address the impacts of climate change on our communities, wildlands and wildlife. The following are statements from scientists who have signed their names to this request:

“Climate change literally threatens life on earth as we know it. Wildlife and the ecosystems we all depend on are at serious risk,” said Tom Lovejoy, University Professor at George Mason and Biodiversity Chair at the Heinz Center. “The Senate must act now to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and address the harmful impacts of climate change already underway.”

“Continuing to drag our feet on the actions needed to stop global warming and address its harmful impacts on wildlife and ecosystems will only make solving this problem harder and more expensive,” said Carl Safina, president of the Blue Ocean Institute. “We owe it to future generations to shift away from dirty fossil fuels now by stopping subsidizing oil, providing incentives for clean, renewable energy and building a smart grid that will create jobs, revitalize U.S. construction and provide major investment opportunities in this country.”

### Links:

Read the scientists' letter here.

Contact(s):

Caitlin Leutwiler, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-3226, cleutwiler@defenders.org
Derek Brockbank, National Wildlife Federation, (202) 797-6666, brockbankd@nwf.org
Neil Shader, The Wilderness Society, (202) 429-3914, neil_shader@tws.org

Defenders of Wildlife is one of the country’s leading science-based conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and restoration of native wildlife, natural habitats, and public lands.  Learn more about Defenders of Wildlife at www.defenders.org.