Washington, DC (August 29, 2012) – Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and dean of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, issued the following statement upon release of the new Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report, “Atlantic National Seashores in Peril: The Threat of Climate Disruption”.

“The Cape Cod National Seashore is one of the jewels of the National Park System that is a beloved vacation destination for millions of Americans each year. This new report shows that by ignoring climate change, we risk depriving future generations of the pleasures that many families visiting the Cape will enjoy this Labor Day weekend. Climate change isn’t a distant threat to Massachusetts and the Atlantic coast – it is our reality now. Sea level rise, water temperature increases and coastal land erosion threaten beaches, wildlife and natural habitat that attract millions of local and international visitors each year and support thousands of jobs and businesses. The Cape Cod National Seashore “arm” will have much heavier lifting to protect the Massachusetts coastline as climate change makes the peninsula vulnerable to larger and stronger storms. Congress needs to turn its attention back to creating effective solutions to cut the harmful pollution causing climate change or we jeopardize turning these iconic national parks from what nature intended into what man interrupted.”

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