Environment America released a report today documenting how global warming could make extreme weather more prevalent in the United States and the world. It details the damage caused by recent weather events such as the California drought, the "snowmaggedons" that crippled the mid-Atlantic region and the heat wave in Russia, saying those are "just a taste of what's to come." The report comes after House Global Warming Chairman Edward Markey called for more funding for climate change research almost a month ago, saying that the pattern of events in the last six months adds strong credence to the idea of climate change. Markey and groups such as Environment America have faced Republican opposition to the claims of a direct correlation. While Environment America is not directly linking these events to global warming, Nathan Willcox, Federal Global Warming Program Director at Environment America, said "global warming loads the dice for extreme weather." The group hopes the report can persuade senators to reject a proposed amendment by Sen. John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.Va., to the Clean Air Act that would strip the EPA of its ability to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. Letting global warming polluters off the hook is "like giving a thief a key to your house after he just stole your car," Willcox said. The Clean Air Act will mark its 40th anniversary Tuesday.
This article appeared in the Saturday, September 11, 2010 edition of National Journal Daily.
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