For Immediate Release:June 18, 2008
Contact: Emily Stone, Environment Maine
(207) 253-1881
New Report: Cities and States Across America Are
Achieving Impressive Results in the Fight Against Global Warming
State Leaders Urged to Follow These
Examples
PORTLAND, ME— Environment Maine
was joined by Maine’s
Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, David Littell and
City Councilor Jim Cohen to release a new report, Global Warming Solutions That Work, which details more than 20
examples of cutting-edge policies and practices that communities, states and
countries are using to reduce global warming pollution. Environment Maine’s current efforts
focus on convincing Governor John Baldacci to support a statewide limit on global
warming pollution which will require these types of actions to slash emissions.
For the United States to make
the emission reductions science tells us will be necessary – cutting emissions
by at least 15-20 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050 – will require
major changes in many areas of America’s economy, from the increased use of
clean, renewable energy to dramatic improvements in the efficiency with which
we use energy in our homes, businesses and vehicles. But solutions exist today
that can get us much of the way there. And communities across the country – and
around the globe – are making those solutions a reality.
Global warming is drastically
changing the face of Maine,
whether through more severe storms or retreating sugar maples. From rising sea
levels along the East Coast, to more intense hurricanes along the Gulf Coast,
to increased drought and water shortages in the Southeast and West, global
warming will leave no corner of America
unaffected unless the United
States takes serious action soon. The impact
of global warming on other nations of the world also must not be
underestimated.
“Global warming is the
defining challenge of our time,” said Robert Booth, Citizen Outreach Director for
Environment Maine. “The latest climate science tells us that we must reduce its
emissions of global warming pollutants quickly and dramatically if we hope to
avoid the most catastrophic impacts of global warming.”
The United Nations
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change made clear in its seminal report last
year that that we must reduce our emissions of global warming pollutants
quickly and dramatically in order to avoid the most catastrophic, long-term
effects of global warming. Specifically,
the most important task of any U.S.
effort to address global warming must be to produce significant domestic
emission reductions as soon as possible.
“Steep reductions in global
warming pollution are challenging but achievable,” noted Booth, “and we already
have the energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies we need to get
started.”
Cities and states across America
are achieving impressive results in the fight against global warming. For
example, Southeastern Pennsylvania saw a 20 percent increase in the number of
riders on energy efficient trains linking Harrisburg
and Philadelphia
following investments that increased travel speeds along the line. A similar 20
percent ridership jump occurred on the Northeast’s Acela high-speed train line.
The report’s authors
concluded that cities, states and the federal government should build upon the
successes of the efforts outlined in the report by setting mandatory,
science-based caps on global warming pollution, adopting strong clean energy
policies, and investing in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
·
Individual states
and the federal government should adopt mandatory, science-based caps on global
warming pollution. At minimum, those caps should be consistent with a national
goal of reducing emissions by 15-20 percent below today’s levels by 2020 and by
at least 80 percent below today’s levels by 2050. Revenues from any program
that puts a price on global warming pollution should be used to aid in the
transition to a clean energy economy and to reduce the cost of emission
reductions to consumers.
·
Cities, states
and the federal government should make energy efficiency improvements and
accelerated development of renewable energy the centerpiece of their
environmental and economic development policies. Advanced building energy
codes; strong energy efficiency standards for buildings, appliances and
vehicles; and mandatory targets for renewable power generation and energy
efficiency savings are among the policies that can reduce global warming
pollution and put the nation on a clean energy path.
·
Global warming
and fossil fuel dependence should become central considerations in land-use
planning and public sector investment decisions. America should increase its
investment in public transportation and rail transportation to reduce emissions
from transportation. All new public buildings should meet rigorous standards
for energy efficiency and the use of clean energy.
“Only bold, science-based action can stave off catastrophic effects of
global warming,” concluded Booth. “We strongly urge Governor Baldacci to support
a statewide cap on emissions.”
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Environment Maine is a statewide, citizen-based
environmental advocacy organization with 4,200 members statewide.
