Please contact Claire McCaskill today!! Her vote is needed on an important climate/energy bill!!

Recently, allegations of scientific fraud regarding climate change research have been widely reported in the news. This so-called "Climategate" has led many otherwise intelligent people to discount the theory of human-caused climate change. While it might be appealing to believe it is all a fraud, the vast body of science still points toward a large human contribution to climate change, and critical examination of the fraud claims reveal that most of them were taken out of context, or misinterpreted. More below:

Climate Change is a Great and Growing Problem!! Let your Legislators and Civic Leaders Know this is an Overwhelmingly Important Issue!!

1) The consequences of not taking strong enough action are far worse than the financial hit many perceive from climate legislation.

2) By supporting appropriate legislation, we can encourage a new, green-energy economy, put millions back to work, and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil while increasing homeland security.  

3) Any legislation must have provisions for those who would be adversely hit financially. These safety-net provisions should be sufficient to protect lower-middle income and poorer people. Individuals earning more than these levels should be able to absorb associated costs and will ultimately enjoy the rewards of the redirected economic focus on a cleaner economy.

4) Legislation must produce significant improvements in the environment that will ultimately benefit human and other life on the planet. A cleaner environment will ultimately save healthcare dollars for individuals, as well as state and federal government.

5) Global supply and demand will ultimately lead to world war if we do not start to build a renewable energy economy. We will be competing with countries such as China and India as they develop their economies. There is a century or less of economically recoverable, yet polluting, fossil fuel sources---including less than 75 years of uranium, according to Big Energy's Conoco-Phillips. These sources and companies have been subsidized while making record profits and sidetracking investment in renewables.  Prices from these limited, finite sources will reflect supply and demand and continue to rise. It's time to change to renewables---change what we, the taxpayers, pay for---carbon credits can be a tool to use for this change and will help build a clean, responsible energy future.

6) Whether one agrees that humans are causing the climate crisis, we have a moral obligation to lead the world and our country to a more sustainable future, one that is healthier, and a future where energy prices are more stable and eventually drop like other consumer goods, as all countries become more energy independent with renewables. As we do this, we must keep the reduction of greenhouse gases as our foremost goal---for example, certain biofuels can be too water intensive in a drying climate, and cause deforestation by increased need for land. Poorly thought out, or hasty solutions, or ones that only benefit a particular industry, can contribute to the climate crisis more than they reduce it.  

7) In order to stabilize the climate, scientists agree that we must keep carbon emissions to around 350 parts per million. We are currently at 380 PPM and rising. The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) sets a goal of 450 PPM. We can see what is already happening at 380 PPM. It's pretty clear we need to hold or reduce emissions below what we have now. The bill must be amended to 400 PPM, or less. Do you know the number of weather-related natural disasters in Missouri the past 2 ½ years, and what these weather-related disasters have cost taxpayers, as well as public and private business? The answer is so many and so much that Missouri SEMA officials stated, in late January of 2008, that weather may now be the greatest threat to homeland security.

8) Finally, any legislation must not undo progress made before, such as removing language that would weaken our present Clean Air Act from its reach, or weaken EPA authority.