Global Warming Program Reports
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| 2009-12-03 | |
| The impact of state-level actions to reduce global warming pollution is significant on a global scale. A review of dozens of individual state policies suggests that state actions will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 536 million metric tons per year by 2020. That is more global warming pollution than is currently emitted annually by all but eight of the world’s nations, and represents approximately 7 percent of U.S. global warming pollution in 2007. | |
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| 2009-11-24 | |
| The United States relies heavily on outdated technology and limited resources for most of its electricity needs. While the production of clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power is growing, the vast majority of American electricity comes from burning fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—and from nuclear power. Our long-time dependence on fossil fuels is a threat to our future. It wreaks havoc on our environment by polluting our air, land, and water; and it puts our entire economy at risk due to our reliance on imports from unfriendly parts of the world. Most importantly, it fuels global warming—the most profound environmental problem of our time, with ever growing impacts that will impose threats to our safety and immense financial cost on our society. Power plants are the single largest source of U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the main pollutant that fuels global warming. | |
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| 2009-11-17 | |
| Far from being a solution to global warming, nuclear power will actually set America back in the race to reduce pollution. Nuclear power is too slow and too expensive to make enough of a difference in the next two decades. Moreover, nuclear power is not necessary to provide clean, carbon-free electricity for the long haul. | |
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| 2009-11-12 | |
| For decades, America’s use of fossil fuels—and the global warming pollution that results—has been on the rise nationally and in states across the country. But this trend is starting to change in some states—in part because of the move to clean energy. Following the lead of those states will start to put the United States on a path to lower global warming emissions and help drive the creation of a clean energy economy. | |
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| 2009-09-28 | |
| The American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act, passed by the House this June and currently under consideration by the U.S. Senate, maps out a new energy future for the nation. Passing the ACES Act – even with the compromises made to secure passage in the House – would be a significant step toward a clean energy future for the United States and would represent a ground-breaking political achievement. | |
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| 2009-09-22 | |
| Transportation is responsible for more than two-thirds of our nation's oil consumption and nearly a third of our carbon dioxide emissions. To make us more energy independent and reduce pollution, we need to build a transportation system that uses less oil, takes advantage of alternative fuels, and shifts as much of our travel as possible from transportation modes that consume a lot of energy to those that consume less. | |
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| 2009-06-30 | |
| Environment State found that Maryland will spend as much as $432 billion on oil, coal, and other fossil fuels by 2030. The high cost of fossil fuels is draining our economy and harming our environment and health. We must break our dependence on Big Oil and Dirty Coal. Instead of allowing the costs of fossil fuels to continue to mount, we should repower America with clean, renewable energy that will create jobs and stop global warming. | |
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| 2009-04-09 | |
| Global warming threatens all sectors of our economy, and agriculture is no exception. While some effects of global warming will seem beneficial, on balance crop yields will suffer due to increased temperatures, more potent storms, ozone pollution, and spreading pests, weeds, and diseases. This report examines the impact of global warming on corn, America’s largest crop, which is particularly vulnerable to productivity losses from the higher temperatures expected from global warming. In Maryland global warming could cost corn farmers $6.2 million. But farmers can be part of the solution as we transition to clean energy, through improved farming practices and on-site solar panels and wind turbines. Federal decision-makers must unleash clean energy, establish science-based pollution reduction levels, and invest in energy reduction and efficiency. | |
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| 2009-01-13 | |
| America is at an energy crossroads, and the economic recovery plan is an opportunity to take a new path. Our reliance on dirty energy is fueling global warming, harming our health, threatening our security and stalling our economy. Instead, we need to move towards a new energy economy. We can protect our environment and strengthen our economy by investing in clean energy and green infrastructure. A green economic recovery plan would mean less global warming pollution, fewer asthma attacks from air pollution, more clean lakes and rivers for drinking water, swimming and fishing, more secure energy in the long term, and more jobs than investing in the dirty energy technologies of the past. | |
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| 2008-10-15 | |
| Globally, the year 2007 tied for the second warmest year on record, behind the record warmth of 2005. This warmth is part of a long-term trend toward rising temperatures and extreme weather events resulting from global warming. Global average surface temperatures have increased by more than 1.4°F since the mid-19th century. In 2007, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that the evidence of global warming is "unequivocal" and that human activities are responsible for most of this rise in temperature. To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, we compared temperature data for the years 2000-2007 with the historical average, or "normal," temperature for the preceding 30 years, 1971-2000. Our data were collected at 255 weather stations—those with the highest quality data—in all 50 states and Washington, DC. Overall, we found that temperatures were above the 30-year average across the country, indicating pervasive warming. The 2007 average temperature for the continental United States was the 10th warmest on record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Nearly every state in the Lower 48 experienced above normal temperatures in 2007. Our analysis of 2007 temperature data at the local level showed: | |
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| 2008-06-18 | |
| This report details more than 20 examples of cutting-edge policies and practices that communities, states and countries are using to reduce global warming pollution. These examples show that while actions to reduce global warming pollution require commitment and creativity, they also bring with them other benefits—reduced dependence on fossil fuels, cleaner air and healthier communities, economic growth and new jobs. | |
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| 2007-12-04 | |
| Scientists expect that global warming will cause a variety of changes to precipitation patterns in the United States. Many areas will receive increased amounts of rain and snow over the course of a year; some areas will receive less. But scientists expect that, all across the country, the rainstorms and snowstorms that do occur will be more intense – increasing the risk of flooding and other impacts. | |
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| 2007-07-24 | |
| In 2006, Americans experienced a summer heat wave that broke records from coast to coast and killed almost 200 people. The year ended and 2007 began with the warmest winter on record globally. This unseasonably warm weather is part of a long-term trend toward rising temperatures and extreme weather events resulting from global warming. | |
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| 2007-06-06 | |
| This report details nine policy strategies, in addition to four steps already taken, that would cut Maryland’s emissions of carbon dioxide—the leading greenhouse gas—by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. Adoption of these strategies will put Maryland on course to reducing its contribution to global warming in line with what scientists believe will be necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change. | |
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| 2007-05-21 | |
| The 12 states that have adopted the Clean Cars Program will cut global warming pollution from cars, light trucks and SUVs by 74 million metric tons per year in 2020. The federal government should not interfere with the progress being made by these states and should grant California’s request for a Clean Air Act waiver so that the states can implement the Clean Cars Program. | |
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| 2007-04-12 | |
| The early effects of global warming are already evident across the United States and worldwide. The past nine years have all been among the 25 warmest for the contiguous United States, a streak unprecedented in the historical record. If emissions are left unchecked, temperatures will continue to rise, and the effects of global warming will become more severe. This report examines trends in U.S. global warming pollution nationally and by state and concludes that the failure to limit emissions nationwide has allowed global warming pollution to grow out of control. | |
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