Baltimore— Environment Maryland
today released 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.
Making the emission
reductions science tells us will be necessary – cutting emissions by 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.
“Some states and cities have
stepped up to the plate on global warming and shown us the way,” said Environment
Maryland State Director Brad Heavner. “The examples in this report need to go
from shining stars to the status quo.”
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, to irregular weather patterns for farmers across the
country, global warming will leave no corner of America unaffected unless the United States The impact of global warming on other nations
of the world also must not be underestimated. takes serious action soon.
“Global warming is the
defining challenge of our time,” said Heavner. “We can create jobs and save
money while modernizing our energy systems, but we need to find the political
will as soon as possible.”
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.
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 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.
Global-Warming-Solutions-that-Work.pdf