GLOBAL VOICES117Above: Administrator LisaP. Jackson and PresidentBarack Obamacritical to use the strongest models and tools and thebest science available.We held hundreds of meetings with stakeholders andexperts to make sure we had the latest information andfully appreciated the range of issues to consider. Weconducted a formal peer review of the lifecyclemethodology.And, finally, we received thousands of comments thathelped us shape our final assessments.Our process in the lifecycle analysis embodies theprinciples that I have made central to the way we carryout our work. We used the best science available indeveloping our proposal. We subjected our assessmentto an independent peer review. We solicited extensivecomments on our proposal.Using this analysis, we have determined that manybiofuels, like soy-based biodiesel, cellulosic biofuelsand, of course, corn ethanol can achieve significantGHG reductions when compared to the fuels they are replacing. As we go forward - and as the state of science in thisarea evolves - we are committed to refining andupdating our methodologies and data. As wecommitted in our rule-making we are moving forwardto get further scientific advice from the NationalAcademy of Sciences. We are also committed toevaluating new technology, new feedstocks and newpathways as they are developed. EPA is on track tocomplete the lifecycle analysis on a number ofadditional biofuels - canola, sorghum, palm oil, and pulp wood this year. The final rule also lays out a petition process to address other pathways in the future. Let me also say that, in recent months, we haveengaged in extensive outreach with the fuel industry tomake sure that successful analysis leads to successfulimplementation of the programme. I know the mainissue on your minds is higher blends of ethanol - suchas E15. As you know, EPA is working hard on a numberof fronts to make a decision on the E15 waiver petitionfrom Growth Energy. The timing of that decision at EPA is directly linked tothe timing of the Department of Energy (DOE) testing.DOE, with guidance from EPA, is conducting anunprecedented multi-million dollar test program tolook at theimpacts E15 has on vehicles. The firstphase of this DOE programme - the testing of 19vehicle models that meet the Tier 2 standards - shouldbe completed by the end of September, and allindications are the testing remains on schedule. Oncethe testing is completed, EPA will make a decisionwhether to grant a waiver to allow E15 in 2007 andlater vehicles. In addition, DOE is testing vehicle models builtbetween 2001 and 2006. That test programme isexpected to be completed by the end of November, atwhich point we expect to make a decision on a waiverthat would cover 2001 to 2006 model year vehicles. Inconjunction with the waiver decisions EPA will alsomove forward on a rule to provide for proper fuellabeling to reduce the potential misfueling. As with all of our actions we intend to take these deliberatelyand actions based on all of the information necessaryto make a sound decision that will serve the public interest. nThis article is excerpted from Administrator Lisa P.Jackson's Remarks to Growth Energy delivered on 13September 2010.

limate change is, quite simply, thegreatest challenge facing the planet in the21st century. The science provides uswith compelling evidence that climatechange is happening and accelerating. But it alsoleaves us with a lot of uncertainty about the pace ofchange, about precisely how adverse its consequenceswill be, and about where it will all end up. What we doknow, of course, is that we will face hotter, driersummers and warmer, wetter winters, temperaturechanges and sea level rise. Combating the causes of climate change, and reducingour greenhouse gas emissions, remains a global policypriority. But we know that we are going to face some ofthe consequences of change anyway, come what may.And in preparing for those, we have two choices. Wecan wait for absolute certainty on the extent ourenvironment might change or we can act now on whatwe do know to prepare our homes and communities forwhat is likely to happen. In a world where some countries confront reducedpublic and private sector finances, and others focus onthe need for immediate improvement in impoverishedliving standards, encouraging people to adapt now for such an uncertain future is a hard sell. Over thepast decade, England and Wales have experiencedsevere weather-related incidents that have affectedthousands of people. Whether or not these weatherevents can be directly attributed to the first vestiges of human induced climate change is a moot point; but the experience of living through flood, drought,coastal erosion, and water shortages give us a goodunderstanding of what is likely to come morefrequently in the future. Despite being a prosperous country and well preparedADAPTATION EFFORTS INENGLAND AND WALES118GLOBAL VOICESRT HON LORD CHRIS SMITH, CHAIRMAN, ENVIRONMENT AGENCYCPhoto: UN Photo