Washington (Platts)--22Jun2009

A group of scientists on Monday called on President Barack Obama to show
greater leadership in the pursuit of the "strongest possible legislation" to
significantly advance the role of US in greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

In an open letter to Obama and Congress, the 20 scientists urged Obama to
take more action, noting the difference between the possible outcome of a
pending House of Representatives climate bill and what the scientific
community considers necessary to curb the impacts of climate change.

The group that wrote the letter includes George Woodwell, Director
Emeritus of the Woods Hole Research Center; Donald Kennedy, professor of
environmental studies at Stanford University; Michael MacCracken, chief
scientist with the Climate Institute; and James Speth, dean of the Yale School
of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

"United States policy must provide a fully satisfactory US contribution
to global greenhouse gas reductions that move beyond" what the scientists call
"inadequate international limits," they said.

The limits the scientist refer to are a carbon dioxide density of 450
parts per million and to limiting the rise of global temperatures to less than
2 degrees Celsius.

"The Waxman-Markey bill now being considered by Congress offers a
powerful advance and must be enacted this year," the letter said, "But at its
best it will be only a first step in the direction that scientists now
recognize as necessary to protect local and regional climates."