Global Warming News

SACRAMENTO, CA:  Global warming pollution increased by 10 percent from 1990 to 2007, according to a new analysis of government data released today by Environment California.  California ranks 2nd nationwide for the highest levels of global warming pollution.

“More global warming pollution than ever before isn’t a record we want to set,” said Environment California Global Warming Associate Charlotte Glennie.  “It’s time to take back control of our energy future.  By harnessing the power of the wind and the sun, we can cut pollution and transition to clean energy sources that don’t harm the environment, never run out, and create new, local jobs,” she continued.

“Here in California we’ve passed some of the strongest clean energy and global warming pollution legislation in the country,” said Glennie. “Now we need to make sure to continue implementing these laws while we fight to keep them strong and effective.”

“To those who say that now is not the time to fight climate change because of the nation’s economy, this report makes it clear that, on the contrary, we cannot wait another minute,” said Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board.  “We need tough federal legislation to turn the tide on rising greenhouse gas emissions across the nation and generate more clean energy, and millions of new jobs.”

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.  For California, global warming means a lot of things, but the impact that is among the most concerning is increased water shortages as our snowpack-fed rivers and streams dry up. The science shows that the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.

Too Much Pollution uses the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy on fossil fuel consumption by state to look at trends in carbon dioxide emissions.  The key findings include the following:

• California’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption increased by 10 percent between 1990 and 2007.  California ranked 2nd nationwide for the highest levels of carbon dioxide emissions in 2007.

• In California, transportation was the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption – responsible for 58% percent of emissions generated in-state in 2007. The state remains heavily wedded to automobiles for its transportation needs.  In fact, carbon dioxide emissions from burning oil jumped by 8.5% percent from 1990 to 2007, as demand for travel – and so driving – increased. 

• Nationally, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased by 19 percent between 1990 and 2007.  Power plants and vehicles, the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, were responsible for the lion’s share of the increase. 

Around the country, more than one-third of the states succeeded in cutting pollution from 2004 to 2007 – before the onset of the economic recession.  The initial success of these states shows that moving to clean energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions – and that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side.  For instance, four Northeast states – Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York – cut their pollution levels by 5 percent since 1997, while increasing their gross state product by 65 percent.

“We can drive the economy without driving up pollution.  By moving to clean energy, we can cut pollution, help jump-start the economy, and create millions of new clean energy jobs across the country,” said Glennie.

California has already taken large steps to reduce global warming pollution.  Regulations such as the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, the Renewable Portfolio Standard and Low Carbon Fuel Standard will cut our reliance on dirty energy while saving consumers money.  California’s high speed rail project will provide a public transit alternative for travelers, reducing the amount of pollution from driving cars.  The Renewable Portfolio Standard, issued this year by Executive Order, will require utilities to generate one third of their electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2020. 

“California is leading the country with laws to fight global warming, and many of these groundbreaking policies have just begun to take effect,” said Glennie.  “Given all the measures we have put in place, California will likely see its global warming pollution decrease in coming years, as long as we continue to move forward implementing these rules.”

The report recommends that the federal government build on the initial progress made by some states by passing strong clean energy legislation and adopting common sense EPA rules to cut pollution from aging coal plants and big smokestack industries.

 The Senate is in the process of considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer.  In addition, EPA has proposed a rule to require coal plants and other large smokestack industries to use available technology to cut their global warming pollution when new facilities are constructed or existing facilities are significantly modified.

Unfortunately, Dirty Coal, Big Oil, and other polluters are fighting the transition to clean energy.  The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent at least $45 million dollars last year alone – more than $120,000 a day – on lobbyists and advertising on energy.  Earlier this year, they hired lobbyists who forged phony constituent letters to Congress opposing action on clean energy.  “The coal industry has proven themselves willing to do or say virtually anything to block progress,” said Glennie.

“We thank Senator Boxer for her leadership on clean energy, and applaud California’s measures to reduce global warming pollution.  We urge Senators Boxer and Feinstein both to vote for this critical bill to cut pollution and create clean energy jobs.  We urge EPA to finalize its rule to cut global warming pollution from coal plants, and we urge California to implement the renewable energy standard of 33% by 2020” said Glennie.