Global Warming Solutions News

Contact: 

Cara Dolan, environmental associate, Environment Washington
CDolan@environmentwashington.org
206-568-2058 x 2008
631-241-0483 cell

The United States, long considered a laggard in addressing global warming, is poised to achieve large reductions in global warming pollution thanks to clean energy policies adopted over the past decade by state governments, according to a new report by the Environment America Research & Policy Center.

“While there’s no doubt that Congress must pass a comprehensive climate bill, our research shows that the states have delivered a down payment on the pollution reductions,” said Cara Dolan, Environment Washington's environmental associate.

“Washington state has led the way because this is a race we can’t afford to lose,” said Congressman Jay Inslee. “Climate change threatens our health and the environment we enjoy.  In addition, our economic future depends on leading the way in new energy technology.  The ideas coming from home have been a model for what we do in Congress and I will continue to rely on their work.” 

The new report, America on the Move, released just days before world leaders convene in Copenhagen to negotiate an international agreement on global warming, found that state policies will reduce global warming pollution by approximately 536 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent per year by 2020 compared to business as usual.

The emission reductions are significant. They represent:

• More global warming pollution than is currently emitted annually by all but eight of the world’s nations;
  
• Approximately 7 percent of U.S. global warming pollution in 2007;
  
• Annual emissions from 104 million cars – about 42 percent of the nation’s motor vehicles;
  
• Annual emissions from 163 coal-fired power plants – about 27 percent of the nation’s coal-fired power plant fleet.

Here in Washington state, exemplary policies have passed that increase energy efficiency, propel the use of renewable energy and decrease per-capita vehicle miles traveled.  Further, Washington state building codes are stronger than the 2009 International Energy Conservation Codes, making it the first state to meet the Architecture 2030 Challenge for progress towards buildings that are net-zero energy consumers.

“America’s clean energy revolution – led by the states – shows that the nation is ready to tackle the challenge of global warming,” said Cara Dolan. “President Obama should take the next step by working to forge a strong agreement to address global warming during the international negotiations in Copenhagen,” she added.

America on the Move reviewed more than 100 policies adopted by states, most of them enacted over the past decade, and estimated the emission reductions that will result from those actions.

For example, while the U.S. Congress has yet to adopt a binding national limit on global warming pollution, six U.S. states – California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey –  have adopted such limits. These six states account for nearly a quarter of America’s economic output and 13 percent of its fossil fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions. If these six states were a separate country, they would rank as the world’s fifth-largest economy and seventh-leading emitter of carbon dioxide.

Collectively, these six states have committed to reducing global warming pollution by approximately 13 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Including a regional cap on power plant emissions adopted by 10 northeastern states, mandatory emission caps will reduce U.S. emissions by approximately 270 million metric tons per year by 2020 – a level of carbon dioxide pollution comparable to that produced annually by the Netherlands or Turkey.

According to the report, additional reductions will result from a variety of clean energy policies adopted by multiple states, including renewable electricity standards adopted by 29 states, energy efficiency resource standards adopted by 22 states, and a variety of other policies.

Moreover, since President Obama’s inauguration in January, the federal government has implemented several policies initiated by the states nationwide – including limits on vehicle global warming pollution adopted by California and 13 other states, strong energy efficiency standards for appliances and lighting, and strong building energy codes. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed by Congress in February, also supports a variety of state and local programs to save energy and reduce global warming pollution.

“When it comes to America’s response to global warming, what’s happening on Capitol Hill is only half the story,” said Cara Dolan. “States have great power to reduce global warming pollution within their borders and many states are now using that power to implement clean energy policies that rival those in place anywhere in the world,” she added.

Environment Washington urged the federal government to require reductions in global warming pollution in the United States consistent with the reductions science tells us are necessary to prevent the worst impacts of global warming – specifically, emission reductions of 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and at least 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, with the vast majority of those reductions to occur domestically. It also encouraged the federal government to implement the best clean energy policies in place at the state level, and urged states to continue to take leadership in adopting and implementing policies to reduce global warming pollution.

“The Federal Government cannot do it all,” says Rep. John McCoy.  “State and local policies play a huge role in climate change, especially around natural resource use and preservation.  States can also respond quicker to emerging problems and public concerns.  Especially in Washington state, citizens expect action nationally and locally to increase their quality of life.  On the national and international levels, you can count on Washington state’s citizens and lawmakers to continue pushing for action on climate change,” he continued.

“States have been called America’s ‘laboratories of democracy,’” said Dolan. “By taking strong action to address global warming, states are showing the nation – and the world – that a clean energy future is within our reach,” she concluded.

Click here to read the full report.

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Environment Washington is a state-based, citizen-funded environmental advocacy organization working for clean air, clean water, and open space.