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Jewish Perspectives on Climate and Air
AIR POLLUTION, GLOBAL
WARMING and ENERGY POLICY
From Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Agenda for 2000-2001
The JCPA supports policies to effect the rapid
adoption of clean and renewable energy sources
and technologies, including solar, wind, fuel
cell, and natural gas, and the phasing out of
reliance on fossil fuel technologies which contribute
to air pollution, respiratory illness, global
warming, and the degradation of ecosystems. The
JCPA favors policies which provide market-based
incentives to adopt clean energy technologies,
including taxation of pollution. The JCPA supports
programs to provide retraining for those workers
most negatively affected by changes in energy
policies.
Exposure to air pollution has long been documented
as a health risk, and there are now emerging patterns
of disease suspected to be at least partially
caused by air pollution. The number of asthma
sufferers in the U.S. has more than doubled since
1980 to an estimated 17.3 million people. Particularly
hard hit are poor, especially minority, children
in inner cities. Although the cause of this rapid
increase is unknown, it is known that indoor and
outdoor air pollution (including vehicle emissions,
industrial plant emissions, cigarette smoke, household
dust, and insect and animal allergens) trigger
asthma attacks in those with the condition.
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Despite a world-wide
scientific consensus that fossil fuel emissions
are significantly contributing to global warming
and despite convincing analyses showing substantial
economic benefits of reducing reliance on fossil
fuels, Congress continues to obstruct U.S. action
to address climate change. At the behest of automakers,
Congress continues to prevent the Department of
Transportation from studying an increase in Corporate
Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and to oppose
closing the loophole that allows "sport utility
vehicles" and other so-called "light
trucks" (which now account for over 50 percent
of vehicles sold) to avoid meeting existing standards
for cars. The organized Jewish community will
be called upon to make clear to members of Congress
that the public interest requires higher CAFE
standards.
In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) advanced efforts to clean up the nation's
air through new regulations and court action against
polluting power plants. There were set-backs as
well, however, as the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled
against tougher EPA standards for ozone and blocked
a carefully negotiated plan with 22 eastern states
to reduce emissions that cause smog and acid rain.
States and cities across the nation, particularly
those in the east, are undertaking their own efforts
to clean up their air, including purchase of low
emission vehicles for public purposes, suits against
polluting power plants, adoption of stricter emissions
standards for cars, and funding of mass transit.
Jewish community relations agencies have opportunities
to join coalitions with a wide range of other
civic and religious groups to advance cleaner
air at the local and regional level.
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