美環保署正式聲明:溫室氣體危及公共健康與福利 | 環境資訊中心
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美環保署正式聲明:溫室氣體危及公共健康與福利

2009年04月23日
摘譯自2009年04月17日ENS美國,華府報導;游珮綺編譯;蔡麗伶審校

美國規模最大、最新的燃煤電廠位於南卡羅來納州;攝影:Santee Cooper在2007年美國最高法院下令必須實施科學審查之後,美國環保署(U.S. EPA)於4月17日表示,溫室氣體排放所造成的空氣汙染可能會危及公共健康或福利。

科學審查結果發現,有非常大的機率及可能性都顯示出,氣候變遷是一個很嚴重的問題;而溫室氣體之排放更必須負起全責,在《清淨空氣法》所指稱的「公共健康與福利」當中,溫室氣體就是危害我們公共健康與福利的元凶。

同時,科學審查結果也證實了有六大溫室氣體所可能造成的危害最大,包括二氧化碳(carbon dioxide)、甲烷(methane)、一氧化二氮(nitrous oxide)、氫氟碳化物(hydrofluorocarbons)、全氟碳化物(perfluorocarbons)、以及六氟化硫(sulfur hexafluoride)等,這和京都議定書中所列管的六大溫室氣體相同。美國在柯林頓政府執政期間曾簽署京都議定書,但在布希政府執政時卻遲遲沒有正式批准。

美國環保署署長潔克森(Lisa Jackson)表示,這個研究結果再次確認了溫室氣體所造成的污染不管是對現在或是對我們的後代子孫而言,都是一個相當嚴重的威脅。幸運的是,在歐巴馬總統對於「低碳經濟」的大聲疾呼之下,以及其在國會上對於清淨能源與氣候立法等議題上強而有力的領導,這個污染問題可望能有一個解決之道:一個能夠創造數百萬個綠色工作,並且終止美國對外國石油長期依賴的解決之道。

俄克拉何馬州的馬斯科吉電廠一景;攝影:xpda.com潔克森4月17日也說了,這六大溫室氣體透過她所謂的「嚴格並且經過同儕評鑑的科學分析」之後,科學研究結果明確顯示出,由於人類對於溫室氣體的排放使這些氣體的濃度達到了一個前所未有的程度,而這麼高的濃度非常有可能會造成平均溫度上升,以及其他氣候變遷的問題。

此外,研究分析結果也發現,除了會對人類健康造成威脅之外,氣候變遷對於國家安全的影響也相當重大。和此研究結果不謀而合的是,在2007年即已經有11位美國退伍將軍及海軍司令在新美國安全中心(the Center for a New American Security)簽署了一份報告,當中即表明了氣候變遷「對美國國家安全而言是一項非常嚴峻的挑戰。」

這個安全報告指出,在政經不穩定的地區有越來越多的暴力衝突可能是為了爭奪越來越少的資源所煽動和挑起的,包括了水資源等。因為氣候變遷而導致的資源短缺,將會促使這些地區發生大規模的遷移活動,他們會從不穩定的區域遷移到世界上比較穩定的區域。

U.S. EPA: Greenhouse Gases Endanger Public Health, Welfare
WASHINGTON, DC, April 17, 2009 (ENS)

Greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today, after a scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The proposed finding states, "In both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem. The greenhouse gases that are responsible for it endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of the Clean Air Act."

The proposed finding identifies six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. These are the same six gases governed by the Kyoto Protocol, which the United States signed during the Clinton administration but did not ratify under the Bush administration.

"This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations. Fortunately, it follows President Obama's call for a low carbon economy and strong leadership in Congress on clean energy and climate legislation," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. "This pollution problem has a solution - one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country's dependence on foreign oil."

After what Jackson calls "rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific analysis" of the six gases, she said today, "The science clearly shows that concentrations of these gases are at unprecedented levels as a result of human emissions, and these high levels are very likely the cause of the increase in average temperatures and other changes in our climate."

In addition to threatening human health, the analysis finds that climate change has serious national security implications. Consistent with this proposed finding, in 2007, 11 retired U.S. generals and admirals signed a report from the Center for a New American Security stating that climate change "presents significant national security challenges for the United States."

Escalating violence in destabilized regions can be incited and fomented by an increasing scarcity of resources - including water. This lack of resources, driven by climate change patterns, then drives massive migration to more stabilized regions of the world, said the security report.

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.