WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For
decades environmentalists have used hyperbolic predictions of
environmental catastrophe to justify costly regulations. In light
of President Obama's announcement of severe new limits on carbon
emissions, which are expected to have very little impact on global
temperatures, the Environmental Policy Alliance released a new
video showcasing the ridiculousness of environmentalists' doomsday
prophecies.
Despite the alarmist rhetoric espoused by anti-energy
activists and politicians, the environment is getting better. Air
pollution has been cut in half and U.S. energy-related CO2
emissions are at their lowest levels in 20 years.
"The crux of modern day environmentalism is that things are
getting worse. Today we hear alarmist claims that without
elimination of fossil fuels, we're facing mass
extinction," Will Coggin, director
of research at the Environmental Policy Alliance, said. "Not
only have environmentalists been wrong for decades, but the
environment has improved significantly."
Air quality has improved dramatically since the 1970s based on
data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Measures
of the six major pollutants: carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, nitrogen
dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter (PM2.5)
have declined significantly over the past decades—even as
the U.S. population and its fossil fuel use has increased.
"Environmentalists know good news doesn't open checkbooks, and
so they continue to recklessly claim the sky is falling in hopes of
keeping their bank accounts full."
Here are just a few of the claims made that never came to
fruition:
Claim: "Civilization will end within 15 or 30 years
unless immediate action is taken against problems facing
mankind." – Harvard Biologist George Wald in 1970
Reality: Civilization hasn't ended.
Claim: "In a decade, urban dwellers will have to
wear gas masks to survive air
pollution." – LIFE magazine in 1970
Reality: Urban dwellers aren't wearing gas masks.
Claim: "By the year 2000, if present trends
continue, we will be using up crude oil at such a rate… that there
won't be any more crude oil." – Ecologist Kenneth
Watt in 1970
Reality: Gas stations are still well-stocked, even in
2015.
Not only have these predictions failed to materialize, but
fossil fuels are the number one driver of health advancements,
technology, and a better quality of life.
To learn more,
visit EnvironmentalPolicyAlliance.org/the-environment-is-improving.
Video - https://youtu.be/yiYbcMzIzas
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-video-from-environmental-policy-alliance-takes-anti-energy-extremists-to-task-for-false-climate-claims-300123419.html
SOURCE Environmental Policy Alliance