EPA staff encouraged to question human impact on climate change

As experts and elected officials across the globe are developing and implementing strategies to offset the harmful impacts of human-induced climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to doubt the reliability of climate science.

In a memo obtained by HuffPost this week, regional staff members of the EPA are encouraged to openly question the impact of human activities on climate change.

The email includes eight talking points on how to discuss preparedness for natural disasters while emphasizing that the driving force behind our growing climate crisis is uncertain.

According to HuffPost, one of the talking points recommended by the EPA states: “While there has been extensive research and a host of published reports on climate change, clear gaps remain including our understanding of the role of human activity and what we can do about it.”

Another talking point in the memo reads:

“Human activity impacts our changing climate in some manner. The ability to measure with precision the degree and extent of that impact, and what to do about it, are subject to continuing debate and dialogue.”

EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman defended the email, stating that the document is “not an official memo,” but is “simply an email among colleagues.”

President Trump and EPA administrator Scott Pruitt have consistently expressed doubt about climate change.

Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its latest four-year action plan without any mention of the phrase “climate change,” just as the EPA had done in its own strategic four-year plan last year.

More recently, the EPA announced a new policy that will greatly limit the type of research that can be used as the basis for new environmental regulations.

Critics argue that the policy, which requires raw data to substantiate scientific research, will enable the EPA to disregard important studies that are necessary to protect Americans from serious threats such as air and water pollution.

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer