“The pollutants produced by our society that cause global warming have serious effects on the environment and on public health,” said Susannah Fuchs of the American Lung Association. “The Show Me Your Solutions Campaign is urging Americans to fight global warming and work to decrease the dangerous levels of air pollution jeopardizing our health and wellbeing. We are proud to join their efforts and look forward to joining them in their campaign; together we can ensure that the people of Missouri and throughout the United States breathe easier.”

 

The Show Me Your Solutions Coalition is calling for a federal policy to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050, what scientists believe is necessary to avert the worst consequences and impacts of global warming. At the local level, Missourians can take steps such as walking or biking to work, turning down the thermostat and switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs.

 

According to a 2007 report from the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Missouri temperatures could rise by approximately 6.75 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 if global warming continues unabated. In our state, the effects of global warming could pose health risks, harm wildlife and ecosystems, and adversely impact recreational activities, tourism and state revenues.

 

The same practices and industrial processes that cause global warming are also the source of the two most dangerous types of air pollution, ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot). As a result of increasingly high levels of these pollutants, many face serious health conditions, including asthma, severe respiratory disorders, and increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and even premature death. 

 

According to the American Lung Association’s 2007 “State of the Air” Report, 136 million Americans live in areas where they are exposed to unhealthful levels of air pollution. The St. Louis and Kansas City Metropolitan areas rank among the most polluted areas in the country. In the state of Missouri, 3,664,963 people are at risk to experience serious health problems due to global warming and other pollution.

 

"Missouri is the 'Show Me State' and it's time for us to show the rest of the world that we can lead the way in solving global warming and reducing the risks of pollution to our public health," said Jim Kottmeyer, Pew Environment Group Missouri representative. “But we can't do it alone; we need a willing partner in the federal government. If we all do our part we can solve this crisis and create a new and clean economy in which the health of our citizens is protected.”

 

By investing in clean energy sources such as wind and solar, whole new industries and jobs could be created. The Blue Green Alliance reported that there are nearly 270,000 Missouri jobs that could see job growth or wage increases in a clean energy economy. These industries would transform cities and towns in Missouri and across America into safe environments with clean air and healthier populations. According to a study conducted by Brigham Young University and Harvard School of Public Health, decreased pollution can result in increased life expectancy. Cleaner air in St. Louis over the past two decades has added nearly five months to average life expectancy in the city. 

 

The American Lung Association is excited to join the Show Me Your Solutions Campaign in highlighting innovative state and local solutions that will help to halt the threat of global warming and make certain that reducing pollution is a top priority for Congress.

 

“We must act now to solve global warming and raise awareness about the dangers of the use of fossil fuels to public health,” said Fuchs. “We need to challenge policymakers to commit to protect the air we breathe and build a clean energy economy for America.”