Unleashing the Power of Green
Tagged In: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Environmental Health, Fossil Fuels, Natural Resources
Ohio Environmental Council, January 15, 2013
A landmark study released this morning is shedding new light on the potency of black carbon as a contributor to climate change. The OEC is pushing to move affordable technology for pollution and idle-control off the shelf and on to dirty diesel engines.
The study, Bounding the Role of Black Carbon in the Climate sSystem: A Scientific Assessment, was published today in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere. The study finds:
The Ohio Environmental Council hails the new report, hoping it will help prod lawmakers and agency officials to get more serious about diesel clean up.
“We cannot afford to fall off the climate change cliff. But if we don’t change our route, that’s where we’re headed,” said David R. Celebrezze, Director of Air & Water Special Projects at the OEC. “The good news is affordable and effective diesel emission- and idle-control technologies are available right now. But we need state and federal action to prod fleet owners to upgrade their diesel vehicles and heavy equipment with diesel-particulate filters and other modern pollution controls.”
“Congress should fully fund the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA). Ohio should fund its diesel clean-up program at $50 million. Emission controls and clean construction provisions work—but only if they’re moved off the shelf and strapped on to diesel engines. Our climate, economy, health, and environment will all benefit,” concluded Celebrezze.
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