Trenton,
NJ — Global warming pollution in New Jersey increased by 14 million metric tons
between 1990 and 2004, a 13% increase, according to “The Carbon Boom,” a new analysis
of state fossil fuel consumption data released today by Environment New Jersey. This is the first time that 2004 state-by-state
data on carbon dioxide emissions have been analyzed comprehensively.
“Global
warming pollution is increasing in New Jersey just as scientists are sounding
alarms that we must rapidly reduce pollution to protect future generations. This
report is a wake-up call to cap pollution levels now before it is too late,”
said Suzanne Leta Liou, Global Warming and Clean Energy Advocate for
Environment New Jersey.
Environment
New Jersey’s report comes less than a week after the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), a U.N. body charged with assessing the scientific record
on global warming, released its consensus report on the current and projected
impacts of global warming. The report warned of increasing droughts, floods, heat
waves, water stress, forest fires, and coastal flooding in the United States but concluded that “many impacts can be avoided,
reduced, or delayed” by quickly and significantly reducing global warming
pollution.
“The release of the Carbon Boom report
and its alarming findings of New Jersey’s increased carbon emissions is further
proof that New Jersey must act now to stop dangerous levels of green house gas
emissions,” said Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union). “The science is obvious
and cannot be ignored. The time to change is now.”
Last year, Assemblywoman Stender
and Senator Buono introduced the Global Warming Response Act (A3301/S2114),
ground-breaking legislation to cap New Jersey’s global warming pollution to
science-based levels.
“From the thawing of permafrost in Alaska and
Siberia to more powerful hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico to higher global
temperatures, global warming can no longer be written off as just a theory,"
said Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex). "We're at a tipping point
where we can either take action to reverse these trends or do nothing and see
the potential for disaster escalate. New Jersey has too much at risk to afford
to hesitate.”
“Environment New Jersey has done a
tremendous service for our state in releasing this alarming report about New
Jersey's part in global warming," said Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein
(D-Middlesex/Mercer), one of five prime sponsors of A3301. "Now, more than ever, it is clear that
our state needs to take immediate action to stem the tide of harmful
emissions.”
Using
data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy, Environment New Jersey’s new
report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption
between 1990 and 2004, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are
available.
Major
findings of the report include:
- New Jersey’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil
fuel consumption grew from 112.1 million metric tons to 126.9 million
metric tons between 1990 and 2004, an increase of 13%. Nationwide, emissions of carbon dioxide
from fossil fuel consumption increased by 18% between 1990 and 2004. Coal-fired power plants and the
transportation sector—especially cars and SUVs—drove this emissions increase.
- In New Jersey, carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline
(primarily in cars and SUVs) increased by 31% between 1990 and 2004, rising from 28.5 million
metric tons to 37.5 million metric tons.
New Jersey ranked 6th
nationwide for the largest absolute increase in carbon dioxide emissions
from motor gasoline consumption over the 15 year period. Overall, New
Jersey ranked 10th nationwide for the most carbon dioxide emissions from
motor gasoline consumption in 2004.
- Between 1990 and 2004, vehicle miles traveled in New
Jersey increased by 24%. Cars and
SUVs also became less efficient. The average fuel economy of new vehicles
declined
by
5 percent between 1987 and 2005. In 2005, new cars and
light trucks achieved only 21 MPG on average, a lower fuel economy
average than the
new vehicle fleet achieved in 1982.
“Sea levels, greenhouse gasses,
and temperatures are rising faster than government action. The grassroots and
science are more than keeping pace and now decision makers must accelerate
their pace by passing Senator Buono’s and Assemblywoman Stender’s global
warming bill. Every day we wait to take the aggressive, viable steps needed to
achieve the goals of the Governor’s Executive Order makes the threat that much
more severe. Legislators and the Administration can't move fast enough
to ban importing out of state dirty power, prohibit new coal plants like
LS Power’s proposal in West Deptford, and ensure the BL England coal
plant near Ocean City shuts down this year,” said Dave Pringle of the New
Jersey Environmental Federation.
The United
States and New Jersey could substantially reduce global warming pollution by
using existing technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes, and cars
more efficient and increasing the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such
as wind and solar power.
In
February, Governor Jon Corzine signed Executive Order 54 establishing
aggressive, science-based goals to cut the state’s global warming pollution by
20% below current levels 2020 and 80% by 2050. The New Jersey Legislature is
currently considering ground-breaking legislation, the Global Warming Response
Act (A3301/S2114), to turn the Governor’s goals into mandatory requirements for
the state. The legislation has attracted strong bipartisan support in both
houses of the Legislature and is quickly building momentum.
“We need
to go on a carbon diet. When it comes to
greenhouse gases, we’re becoming morbidly obese,” said Jeff Tittel, Executive
Director of the Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter.
“Through new technology, better planning, and government and personal
commitment, we can become lean and healthy.”
At the
federal level, the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590) and the Global Warming
Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309) would freeze U.S. global warming emissions in
2010 and reduce emissions by about 15% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. New Jersey Congressmen Pallone, LoBiondo,
Pascrell, Payne, Rothman and Sires are co-sponsors of H.R.1590 and Senators
Menendez and Lautenberg are co-sponsors of S. 309.
“We have
the solutions available right now to take decisive action to cut global warming
pollution -- solutions that will also grow our economy by promoting investment
in clean, renewable energy technologies and protecting consumers from rising
energy prices,” said Leta Liou. “We can solve global warming, and New Jersey
can lead the way.”
###
Environment New Jersey is a statewide citizen-based
environmental advocacy organization that represents over 20,000 citizen members
across the state.
The-Carbon-Boom.pdf