In just the past few months you've called on the administration to repower, refuel, and rebuild America through smart, climate legislation that will build a clean energy economy. You've told the Environmental Protection Agency to allow states to legally regulate global warming pollution from cars, and in key states and districts, you've been working to support strong renewable energy legislation. In addition, President Obama's recent calls to restore scientific integrity to federal policy making and reduce the threat of nuclear weapons is the result of our collective work over many years to raise the visibility of these critical issues and demand change. And just last week, California passed the world's first low carbon fuel standard to cut global warming pollution from gasoline and diesel fuels. The regulation will likely serve as a model for other states and the federal government.

While this is a moment of enormous opportunity, the change we need will not happen simply through good intentions. The voices of the status quo continue to use the politics of fear, attempting to delay action and promote their short-term interests. In these critical times, we need your continued support to make our world cleaner and safer, strengthen the economy, and enhance national security.

Global Warming
Tens of thousands of citizens—including 20,000 UCS activists—called on our nation’s leaders to pass comprehensive climate legislation that will repower, refuel, and rebuild America. The petition was delivered to President Obama when he stepped into office this January. With the president’s public commitment to building a clean energy future and Congress starting to take up climate legislation, we have a tremendous opportunity to protect future generations from the worst effects of global warming while breaking our dependence on oil and putting Americans back to work. In the Northeast, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—the nation’s first regional, market-based plan to limit global warming pollution—went into effect, helping to set the stage for federal legislation to reduce emissions across the country. And with tropical deforestation accounting for 20 percent of the world’s global warming pollution, UCS supporters pushed to include foreign aid funds to help reduce deforestation. More...

Clean Energy
UCS activists and allies advocated for a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) with our new Clean Power, Green Jobs analysis that shows that by requiring utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from clean, renewable resources by 2025 we would create new jobs, save consumers money on their electricity bills, and reduce global warming pollution. In key districts, states, and regions, supporters contacted their representatives, signed petitions, and submitted letters and op-eds to local and major media outlets, in support of the RES, and UCS supporters in California worked hard to strengthen their state’s RES as well. More...

Clean Vehicles
Amidst a weak economy and automaker bailouts, fuel economy and clean car standards were thrust into the spotlight this spring. The Obama administration used methodology held over from the Bush administration to set the 2011 model year vehicle fuel economy standards, which included only a small increase over current standards. UCS is working with agency officials to improve implementation for fuel economy standards in future model years. President Obama also told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider their decision prohibiting states from implementing clean car standards for global warming pollution. UCS analysts and activists spoke loud and clear in support of this issue, including continued efforts to encourage more states to adopt the clean car standards. Our work to reduce global warming pollution from fuels continues as well. UCS scientists worked with the EPA on its plans to implement a Renewable Fuel Standard, but key issues still remain especially in regard to land use and global warming pollution gasoline and diesel fuels. At the state level, however, we achieved a major victory last week in California where they passed the world's first low carbon fuel standard. In addition, California activists defended diesel pollution standards that protect public health and the environment. More...

Nuclear Weapons & Global Security
In 2008, UCS released Toward True Security, outlining steps the next president should take to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons. In his historic Prague speech this April, President Obama called for the implementation of many of these steps, laying out a bold, yet pragmatic plan to transform U.S. nuclear weapons policy. On the issue of nuclear reprocessing, UCS activists sent a clear, unequivocal message to the administration that reprocessing nuclear waste is dangerous, unnecessary, and will do nothing to solve the problem with spent fuel from commercial reactors by submitting more than 11,000 of the 14,000 public comments received on the topic. And tough budget battles loom over funding for costly, unproven missile defense programs that UCS and its activists have taken the lead in opposing over the last several years. More...

Scientific Integrity
Since pledging in his inaugural address to “restore science to its rightful place,” President Obama has asked his science advisor to come up with a plan to stop political interference in science. Many of the actions taken by the administration in its first 100 days reflect recommendations UCS presented to the presidential transition team. We’ve also started to see our work pay off within federal agencies—Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson recently issued a memo emphasizing scientific integrity and the importance of transparency in the agency. Last month both the president and Congress moved to strengthen the Endangered Species Act and its scientific foundation. After many of you called for action—along with more than 1,300 scientists—cabinet members responded, implementing many of those steps. And thanks in part to our efforts, companies will once again be required to disclose adequate information about the toxic chemicals they release into local communities. Much remains to be done to restore scientific integrity to federal policy making, and we will continue to look to you for support along the way. More...

Food & Agriculture
In April, UCS released a groundbreaking report, Failure to Yield, that dispels years of biotech industry propaganda by showing that genetically engineered (GE) crops do not allow farmers to grow significantly more crops per acre of land. At the same time, your letters helped stall a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal to weaken oversight of GE crops. Your letters to Congress also helped support legislation to curb the overuse of antibiotics in the feed of animals that are not sick. Our most recent issue of Green Cuisine—featuring a photo slideshow and a free recipe—highlighted the story of a Missouri hog producer successfully raising his animals without unnecessary antibiotics and working with local chefs to serve up fresh, local food. And we provided consumers with information on how to participate in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for meat purchases. More...

Invasive Species
UCS is working hard to make historic changes to invasive species law. Thanks to you, we have doubled the list of supporters of The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, adding representation from six new states and trust territories. This House bill would require risk-assessment of non-native animal imports before they are permitted into the country. Nearly 12,000 UCS supporters emailed or called their representatives to let them know this legislation is the most effective way to prevent future non-native species invasions. As the pet industry opposition to this bill mounts, we are looking forward to your continued support and communication with your elected officials. With your help UCS will continue to prevent further damage from invasive species in the United States. More...

The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S. science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C. To subscribe or visit go to:  http://www.ucsusa.org