Statement from Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund, on President Obama

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:         
Tony Kreindler, Environmental Defense Fund, (202) 445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org
                                                                                                                      
                                                          
(Washington- February 24, 2009) “President Obama made clear tonight that the Congress must act, and act quickly, to overhaul our oil-addicted economy with a cap on carbon pollution.  His speech showed that that he really gets it: Our energy problems are a big part of our economic challenge and it’s going to take a major overhaul to fix them.  That’s why he called on Congress for a cap — it’s a bold and critical step for our environment, and the next logical step for rebuilding our economy.  
 
“The President said, ‘To truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America.’
 
“He captured the urgency of the problem and the real economic opportunity in solving it.  
 
“American manufacturers are ready to build the products that will make our nation more efficient and reduce global warming pollution. Cap and trade will deliver the customers they need to grow. The plan the President has talked about will also generate substantial new revenue for helping American consumers and investing in the country’s most pressing priorities.  And it is the only approach that guarantees the pollution cuts our environment needs.
 
“The President already has taken some important and common-sense steps to improve our climate and energy policies. We look forward to working with his administration and the Congress to pass strong cap that will address this environmental crisis and create new jobs and markets for American workers.”
 
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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.
 

With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org