The agency says it has "lost the messaging war."
WASHINGTON – With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) planning climate rule changes, the agency’s administrator said industry lobbyists are winning the public relations war, Climate Wirereports.
“The people in my line of work have not done the best job in communicating our side of the debate. We’ve lost the messaging war,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson during a press conference at the National Press Club.
Jackson disagreed with current bipartisan endeavors in Congress to restrict or take away EPA authority on climate change regulations. Also, industry companies and some states are challenging EPA’s decision that greenhouse gases should be classified as pollutants in court.
She countered claims that her agency’s regulations are harmful to growing the economy by pointing out that protecting the environment can spur economic growth with innovation and jobs. Jackson said that the Senate pushing to the side an economy-wide carbon cap could hamper innovation.
“The more you move away from an economy-wide approach, although you can make some progress, you lose some opportunities to harness that private-sector investment,” said Jackson.
The recent scandals revolving climate change scientists’ e-mails have reignited efforts to debunk the EPA’s global warming work. “There is certainly an organized effort to sow doubt in people’s mind, and there’s some indication that it may be working on some level,” she said.
Jackson acknowledged that polishing the agency’s image is a top priority.
For more on NACS climate change efforts on Capitol Hill, check out our issue page.
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