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| Press Release: AB 32 and Other Environmental Protection Measures Must Stay on Track
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Derek Walker, 916) 492-7169, dbwalker@edf.org Jesus Mena, 415-293-6097, jemena@edf.org (Sacramento – April 30, 2008) The legislature and the Governor must soundly reject a proposal to roll back environmental protections to address the state’s budget woes and continue their joint efforts to improve and protect California’s air quality, water quality and natural resources.
Environmental Defense Fund joined other groups in opposing the proposal put forth on Tuesday by a minority of Republicans and business leaders that urged delaying implementation of AB 32, the greenhouse gas reduction law adopted in 2006, because of budget constraints.
“Study after study has shown that the cost of inaction will be devastating to the economy and will set up our children and grandchildren for disaster,” said Derek Walker, acting director of the Environmental Defense Fund state climate campaign. “The public has said time and again that it wants California to continue its environmental leadership. A wide range of business leaders support bold action on global warming because they understand it will be a win-win for the economy and the environment.”
The proposal reflects a thorough misunderstanding of the impact of pollution and regulation in this state. Responsible assessments both by independent analysts and regulators in recent years have shown that the state’s air pollution costs its residents and businesses tens of billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, lost days at work, health costs and lost days at school. This doesn’t even take into account the human suffering. These costs were far higher than the costs of regulation.
“The world is watching. We cannot afford to wait, we cannot fail,” Walker said.
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About Environmental Defense Fund
A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.
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| Ten Senators to Watch on Global Warming The Senate is scheduled to debate and vote on landmark global warming legislation during the first week of June.Will the Senate seize this historic opportunity and begin to solve the global warming crisis?These ten Senators reflect the debate that’s playing out right now.Some are swing votes. Others are leaders whose management skills will be put to the test.Their work with Senate colleagues over the next month could make the difference in our efforts to pass meaningful global warming legislation this year.  Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) – Has introduced legislation in the past that would limit global warming pollution from power plants; as a member of the Senate Republican leadership the question will be - does he help the Republican caucus move to a more responsible position?  Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) – A moderate Democrat with good environmental ratings from the League of Conservation Voters; represents state with one of the largest per-capita manufacturing industries in the country; he will look to balance economic and manufacturing interests in the bill.  Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) – Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; has his own competing global warming legislation with Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA); is looked to by many moderate Democrats, particularly those with coal mining interests, as a leader on issue.  Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) – Senior Senator from South Carolina, a state vulnerable to hurricanes and coastal flooding; is one of Senator John McCain’s strongest allies in the Senate; supports nuclear power and will try to boost support for nuclear energy in the bill.  Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) – Freshman Senator from a state that is a traditional political bellwether for the country; has said that global warming is a serious threat and has promoted investments in alternative energy; her senior Senator, Kit Bond, is one of the Senate leading opponents against action to reduce global warming emissions; will look for ways to best balance her state’s rural and low-income interests in the bill.  Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) – As Senate Majority Leader, he has scheduled floor time in early June to debate the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act; his leadership will be critical in bridging the differences between members.  Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) – First-term Senator from a state vulnerable to droughts and wildfires that could be made far worse by global warming; Colorado has abundant solar and wind energy resources, but also large coal and other fossil fuel reserves; Salazar has praised Colorado Governor Bill Ritter’s Climate Action Plan, which adopts aggressive greenhouse reduction goals; will be looking at various technology incentives and opportunities for agriculture in the bill to make sure that they work for Colorado.  Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) – Second-term Senator from a state renowned for its natural beauty and diverse geography; Oregon is part of the Western Climate Initiative to establish a regional approach to reducing global warming pollution; he continues to question the science behind global warming. Will he decide to represent the citizens of his state and join the call for real action?  Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) – Fifth-term moderate Republican Senator from a political swing state with manufacturing and coal interests; has his own global warming legislation with Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM); if Senator Bingaman and Senator Specter will both work with constructively with Senators Lieberman and Warner on key areas of interest, it will send a strong signal to other undecided votes.  Senator John Sununu (R-NH) – First-term Senator from a state with big outdoor recreation and skiing industries that could be vulnerable to global warming; in 2005, New Hampshire joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative of nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to limit global warming pollution; while Senator Sununu has supported a bill that would limit emissions from powerplants, he voted no on a comprehensive cap-and-trade bill in 2003; despite strong support for addressing climate change in the state, he has yet to endorse the Climate Security Act. Take Action »Forward this list »Leave a Comment » |
| Press Release: Federal Agency Analysis: Economy Will Grow Strongly Under Lieberman-Warner Climate Bill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Steve Cochran, 202- 572-3333
(Washington-April 30, 2008) Bold action to combat climate change is consistent with strong U.S. economic growth, according to an analysis released today by the federal Energy Information Administration. The Agency estimates there would be minimal change in long-term economic growth under the Lieberman Warner Climate Security Act, when compared to business-as-usual.
“This study makes crystal clear that we can address climate change and have robust economic growth at the same time. Anyone claiming the Lieberman-Warner bill will bring economic doom can now go sit with those still saying climate change is a hoax,” said Steve Cochran, director of Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Campaign. “It’s time for the Can’t-Do crowd to retire the scare tactics.”
The EIA analysis did not include the cost of failing to solve climate change, including rising insurance rates, public spending to fix costal infrastructure, agricultural damage from droughts, substantial public health costs, increased international instability, and more intense hurricanes and storms.
“This analysis by the federal government should settle this question because it reinforces what we’ve learned from other credible studies. In a twenty year economic forecast, a difference of less than one percent is nearly non-existent,” said Cochran. “It’s like two cars driving different routes from New York to L.A. and predicting one will get there at noon on the third day and the other will arrive at 12:45.”
"For a small investment, the nation would avert the worst impacts of climate change, create clean energy jobs, reduce pollution, and tackle global warming," Cochran said.
A recent analysis by Environmental Defense Fund economists, reviewing data from a range or academic studies, showed the same minimal impact on economic activity under a strong climate policy. More information can be found at www.edf.org/climatecosts.
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