Contact: Peter Taglia, Staff Scientist, 608.251.7020 ext. 27 (office), 608.217.8219 (cell)
Domestic Carbon Emissions Drop Dramatically as Policy- Makers Debate Details of Climate Legislation
Washington, D.C. – As state and federal leaders debate plans to reduce carbon emissions, new research from the Earth Policy Institute, a Washington based environmental group, shows that national carbon emissions may drop by as much as nine percent between 2007 and 2009. This striking reduction demonstrates that achieving the greenhouse gas reductions necessary to prevent the most devastating consequences of global warming may be easier than anticipated.
“For years we have known that left unchecked, global warming would have terrible environmental and economic consequences,” said Peter Taglia, staff scientist at Clean Wisconsin, the state’s largest environmental advocacy organization. “This new data clearly suggests that not only can we can achieve the reductions needed to combat global warming, but that it may be far easier than we anticipated.”
While the Earth Policy Institute’s data suggests that some of the reductions have come as a result of the recent recession, it also makes clear that new state commitments to renewable energy production, an energy efficiency revolution, and higher vehicle fuel-efficiency standards are all responsible for aiding in emissions reduction.
“This precipitous drop in global warming pollution over the last two years highlights our nation’s ability to protect our environment as we rebuild our economy,” said Taglia. “By investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, we can protect ourselves from global warming, create jobs, reduce our reliance on dirty fossil fuels, and become more energy independent.”
States like Wisconsin which have an abundance of natural resources are particularly well-suited to benefit from clean energy legislation. With no fossil fuel reserves of its own, Wisconsin currently spends over $20 billion dollars on energy produced by out-of-state fossil fuels. By replacing these dirty, expensive fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy, our state stands to become more energy efficient, and keep more money within our borders.
“This new research demonstrates that we can achieve the greenhouse gas reductions necessary to protect our environment and our economy from the most devastating consequences of global warming,” said Taglia. “Now is the time for state and federal policy-makers to implement strong clean energy legislation that will make our economy stronger, environment cleaner, and future more secure.”
