Washington, D.C. —

This afternoon the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied 10 petitions challenging its 2009 determination that emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities contribute to climate change, and climate change threatens human health and the environment. In its thoughtful review and serious consideration of these petitions, the EPA once again reviewed volumes of scientific data and research and determined that the petitions have no merit and no evidence to support them.

There remain several industry lawsuits attempting to similarly challenge EPA’s scientific finding that global warming pollution endangers public health in America. Earthjustice is representing Environmental Defense Fund as an intervenor against the industry challenges.

The following statement is from Earthjustice managing attorney David Baron:

“We’re glad that the EPA has rejected the baseless claims of polluters who are trying to evade the truth and deny science. These petitions and all other legal challenges to the EPA’s finding are utterly baseless.

“Literally hundreds of studies and volumes of research by the world’s leading scientists support the EPA’s finding on the danger of greenhouse gases and climate change. A major study by the National Academy of Sciences in May is further reinforcement that climate change is occurring now, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks to people today and in future generations.

“The science is clear, and it speaks for itself. We don’t need more evidence—we need strong action, and we need it now.

“Our nation’s leaders, especially those in the Senate, need to move our nation forward in addressing climate change and advancing a national plan to reduce harmful global warming emissions, cut our dependence on dirty and foreign fossil fuels, and grow a clean energy economy.

“Those senators who continue to deny this science and who are attempting to block the EPA from reigning in the excessive carbon pollution of the nation’s biggest polluters are on the wrong side of history. They must get out of the way of progress.

“The EPA should continue to move forward in doing its job to limit the global warming pollution of major polluters. Further, this valid science tells us that now is the time for our Senate to move forward in addressing climate change, not backward.”