On June 2nd, the Environmental Protection Agency announced regulations to limit carbon dioxide pollution from the nation’s power plants, which are the largest single source of greenhouse gas pollution, accounting for 40% of total emissions. The New York Times reports that other nations, including China, will be studying these regulations to determine the scope of their own programs.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that climate change threatens the world’s food supply, endangering yields of wheat and maize, as well oceanic fish. Scientists recently found the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is melting, bringing a global rise in sea level that would flood coastal cities around the world and drive mass migration, as well as political conflict.
As a coal state, Indiana produces more carbon dioxide pollution than much more populous states such as New York, Illinois, and California. Indiana’s Congressional delegation protects the coal industry by trying to block carbon regulations. Even Senator Joe Donnelly, who calls climate change “the defining issue of our time,” wrote to President Obama asking for weak E.P.A. regulations on coal.
Indiana would pay a heavy price for being a climate spoiler: in lower crop yields; in storms; in liability as an enraged world held polluters to account; and in drastic adjustments which would be much cheaper if made now.
Pope Francis put it succinctly: “Safeguard Creation. Because if we destroy Creation, Creation will destroy us! Never forget this!” I hope that Senator Donnelly, a Catholic, is listening.
