Comment Log Display

The statement below represents the comments of 159 scientists and
engineers who live or work in California. Scientists have published
and have a Ph.D. or are in a Ph.D. program. Engineers have a Ph.D.,
or a master’s degree with at least five years of career experience,
or a bachelor’s degree with at least ten years of career
experience. All signers have expertise relevant to our
understanding of climate change, its impacts, or solutions. Please
see the attached document (pdf) to view the full list of signers.

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An Open Letter from California Scientists and Engineers on Advanced
Clean Cars and Reducing Heat-Trapping Emissions

We write to urge California leaders to seize the opportunity, once
again, to demonstrate that the nation can begin to meet the climate
challenge by adopting strong policies that will further reduce
heat-trapping emissions from cars and trucks. 

The causes and risks of climate change are clear and well
documented. In May 2010, a report by the U.S. National Academy of
Sciences concluded “Climate change is occurring, is caused largely
by human activities, and poses significant risks for—and in many
cases is already affecting—a broad range of human and natural
systems.” 

Global average surface temperatures have increased at a rate of
0.7°C (1.3°F) per century since 1900, with the rate accelerating to
approximately 0.16°C (0.29°F) per decade since 1970(1), and impacts
are now being observed worldwide.(2) These temperature changes,
driven by human-caused emissions, have locked in further changes,
such as sea-level rise that intensifies coastal flooding and
dramatic changes in snowpack that risk disrupting water supplies in
the western United States.(3) If emissions continue unabated,
California will face continued warming with more temperature
extremes, faster sea-level rise, increasing risks and cost for
agriculture, and severe public health challenges for at-risk
populations.(4)

The longer we wait to bring down emissions, the harder and more
costly it will be to limit climate change impacts and to adapt to
those that cannot be avoided. We already have the solutions and
technology to start significantly reducing emissions. 

Informed by the threats to California from climate change, the
state has set a long-term goal to reduce its heat-trapping
emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Cars, trucks, and
other mobile sources account for nearly 40 percent of these
emissions in California. (5)
 
We urge you to adopt policies that will reduce heat-trapping
emissions from cars and trucks over the next decade and beyond,
while promoting advancements in vehicle and fuel technologies that
will create jobs and will be needed to meet the state’s long-term
emissions reductions goals. 

Signed,
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR LIST OF SIGNERS

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This letter may also be downloaded at
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/ca-scientist-letter.pdf