Global Warming News

Trenton, New Jersey—Environment New Jersey today hailed a letter sent by seven New Jersey Congressmen and other members of Congress to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laying out a blueprint for U.S. action to solve global warming.  The letter, which establishes principles for “strong, fair, and science-based” legislation, was signed by Representatives Pascrell, Payne, Holt, Rothman, Sires, Andrews, and Pallone.  Congressman LoBiondo has also supported strong on action on global warming by signing on as a co-sponsor of Safe Climate Act, HR1590, earlier this year.

“This letter sets the stage for action on global warming next year.  These New Jersey Representatives are sending a clear message that global warming legislation must be strong, fair, and science-based,” said Environment New Jersey Executive Director Dena Mottola Jaborska.  

“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.” 

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 Pascrell, Payne, Holt, Rothman, LoBiondo, Sires, Andrews, and Pallone for standing up for strong action on global warming,” said Mottola Jaborska of Environment New Jersey.

The letter builds on the framework of the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590), which is the leading global warming bill in the House

 ###

Speaker-Principles-Letter-10-2-08-1.pdf