Global Warming News

CHICAGO, IL—Environment Illinois today hailed a letter sent by seven Illinois Representatives and 145 other Representatives to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laying out a blueprint for U.S. action to solve global warming.  The letter establishes principles for “strong, fair, and science-based” legislation.

“This letter sets the stage for action on global warming next year.  These seven IL Representatives are sending a clear message that global warming legislation must be strong, fair, and science-based,” said Environment Illinois Staff Attorney and Clean Energy Advocate Brian Granahan.

“The earth is warming rapidly, but there’s still time to avert catastrophic effects if we act quickly and boldly.  As these principles recognize, we must swiftly transition to a clean energy economy and reduce global warming pollution to the levels the science says is necessary.  These principles lay out an effective approach for protecting our planet, our children, and future generations,” said Representative Henry A. Waxman, one of the authors of the letter and a senior member of the Energy & Commerce Committee.  The other authors were Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Jay Inslee (D-WA).

The principles call for reducing total U.S. emissions of global warming pollutants by 15-20 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050 in order to keep the global rise in temperatures to no more than 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) over pre-industrial levels.  At increases of more than 3.6 degrees F, scientists believe that the effects of global warming would become catastrophic.

The principles also call for requiring polluters to pay for their emissions and for using the revenue to invest in “the best clean energy and energy efficiency technologies” and to “return revenue to consumers.” 

Legions of special interest lobbyists – representing oil companies, electric utilities, the auto industry, coal companies, and other polluters – are working to shape federal global warming legislation to their own benefit, including pushing for billions of dollars in free carbon credits, which would make the legislation less effective and more expensive for American consumers.

“We applaud Representatives Rush, Jackson, Lipinski, Gutierrez, Davis, Schakowsky, and Hare for standing up for strong action on global warming,” said Granahan.

The letter builds on the framework of the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590), which is the leading global warming bill in the House and is sponsored by Congressman Waxman.  Representatives Emanuel, Rush, Jackson, Lipinski, Gutierrez, Davis, Schakowsky, and Hare cosponsored the bill.

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Environment Illinois is a non-profit, statewide environmental advocacy group.  For more information, visit www.environmentillinois.org