Source: Evangelical Environmental Network
All of us would agree that our children are precious and must be defended from the threats imposed by leaking poisons emitted from oil/gas production, distribution, and transportation. These include known cancer-causing toxics like benzene, VOCs that increase ozone levels, and methane. Methane is an over 80 times more potent greenhouse gas than CO2 in the first twenty years and a major contributor to global warming and climate-fueled extreme weather. Rising temperatures not only pose the threat of heat illness and death during heat waves, but also directly contribute to worsening ozone levels. The medical and scientific literature is clear – living within 0.5 miles of a methane extraction or production site harms our children, and newer research suggests that even those living within a 5-mile radius may also be at risk.
Currently 17.3 million people, including 3.9 million children under 18 live within a half mile health threat radius of active oil and gas production operations.
Watch video: Protecting Our Children and Elders: Evangelicals Call for Stronger Environmental Safeguards
