Oversight Committee Hearing on Black Carbon
October 18, 2007
The Oversight Committee is currently holding a hearing, "Black Carbon and Global Warming," with testimony from experts regarding the global and regional impacts of soot, its sources, and the risks it raises for public health.
Chairman Henry Waxman gives opening remarks:
| Chairman Waxman: "Today we will hear that black carbon may be responsible for almost 20% of the warming the planet is currently experiencing. Experts will tell us that black carbon may be the second most significant global warming pollutant after carbon dioxide. Yet controlling black carbon has not been seriously examined at the federal level as a way of possibly mitigating global warming. At today's hearing we will explore what may seem to be an overwhelmingly complex issue involving atmospheric chemistry, global climate modeling, and literally millions of sources of air pollution. It may seem complex -- and indeed there are complexities and unanswered questions -- but it is manageable." |
Dr. Tami C. Bond, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, gives opening remarks:
| Dr. Bond: "Black carbon reductions can contribute to climate protection, and exploration of this possibility should proceed rapidly, although cautiously. Reducing emissions can eliminate warming quickly, and in some cases economically. These measures also result in major health and environmental benefits. However, they are not always cost effective for climate purposes alone, especially in industrialized countries, and they reduce warming only in the short term." |