With legislation pending before the state legislature to cap
global warming pollution, a new report released today by Environment California
Research & Policy Center shows how the rest of the country can meet – and
even exceed – similar pollution reduction goals. The report finds that the U.S. can reduce its global warming
emissions below 1990 levels within the next 15 years by boosting energy
efficiency and renewable energy.
Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to
Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States is the first report to provide a
blueprint for the nation to follow California’s lead to achieve the short-term cuts
in emissions that science shows are needed to put the U.S. on a path to avoid the worst effects
of a warming world.
“This report shows that we can take serious action against
global warming – not only in California, but nationally as well,” said Jason
Barbose, global warming advocate with Environment California. “With California poised to enact the strongest global
warming pollution standards in the country, it is high time for Washington to take action as well.”
Through Executive Order signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger last
year, California has a goal of reducing global warming pollution 25 percent (or to 1990
levels) by 2020. According to research by Environment California Research & Policy Center outlined in this new report, the rest
of the country can reach 1990 levels by 2020, if not go beyond (see chart
below). The report details six challenging
but feasible steps to improve the energy efficiency of our economy and use more
renewable energy. These strategies, coupled
with strong mandatory limits on global warming emissions, would reduce U.S. global warming emissions by 19 percent
below 2004 levels by 2020 (19 percent reductions nationwide would reach 1990 levels). At the same time, the steps would improve
America’s long-term economic and energy security.
The six steps outlined in the
report are:
1.
Stabilize vehicle
travel.
2.
Increase vehicle
fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon and set fuel economy standards
for large trucks.
3.
Replace 10% of
vehicle fuel with biofuels or other clean alternatives.
4.
Reduce energy
consumption in homes, business, and industry by 10% from current levels.
5.
Obtain 20% of our
electricity from new renewable energy sources.
6.
Hold emissions
from other sources to current levels.
“Taking these steps would be a sizable down payment on the
larger pollution reductions that the U.S. will need to achieve in the decades
ahead to keep global warming in check,” said Barbose.
To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, the U.S. must stabilize emissions within the
next decade, begin reducing them soon thereafter, and cut global warming pollution
by 80 percent by the middle of this century.
The steps outlined in this report also would reduce U.S. dependence on scarce fossil fuels
and, in many cases, create jobs and save money.
“The potential payback from these efforts is tremendous—both
in avoided economic and environmental impacts from global warming and in the
establishment of a more secure energy future for the U.S.
The result would be a cleaner, more sustainable foundation on which to
build America’s economy for the 21st century,”
said Barbose.
Legislation to mandate cuts in global warming pollution, AB
32, is pending before the California State Legislature. If passed, this would be the country’s first
statewide cap on global warming pollution.
In addition, earlier this summer, Rep. Henry Waxman of California and Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont introduced legislation that would
reduce U.S. global warming emissions by 13 percent
below 2004 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2004 levels by 2050. Environment California commends U.S. Rep. Waxman for taking a strong
leadership role by introducing this legislation and urges other members of California’s congressional delegation to join
in support.
