HARTFORD—Environment Connecticut
applauded Representatives Larson, DeLauro, Murphy and Shays for cosponsoring
legislation introduced today to fight global warming. The Safe Climate Act would limit global
warming pollution to levels that current science says are needed to prevent the
worst effects of global warming. The
bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of 128 members led by Representative
Henry Waxman (D-CA), the chair of the House Oversight Committee and a senior
member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“Connecticut’s congressional representatives
have taken a leadership role by supporting strong, science-based legislation to
fight global warming. Global warming is
the most important environmental challenge of our time, and future generations
will judge us by how we handle it,” said Christopher Phelps, Environment
Connecticut Program Director.
The world’s leading
scientific institutions have long been united in recognizing the grave threat
posed by human-caused global warming, a fact underscored by the recent report
by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which called
the evidence that global warming is occurring “unequivocal.”
Now, many scientists are also
warning that time is running out to prevent the worst effects of global
warming. NASA’s chief climatologist, Dr.
James Hansen, has said that we must begin to reduce global warming pollution
within 10 years or risk climate change that would result in “practically a
different planet.”
The Safe Climate Act, first
introduced in June 2006, would reduce total U.S. global warming emissions to
1990 levels by 2020 (a 15% reduction from today’s levels) and to 80% below 1990
levels by 2050. To achieve these
emission reductions, the bill calls for a greater reliance on clean, renewable
energy and improved energy efficiency.
Connecticut’s global warming emissions goals, adopted in 2004,
are similar to those in the Safe Climate Act. The state has begun implementing
policies, such as Clean Car emission standards and the Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative for cutting power plant emissions, as first steps towards achieving
science-based reductions in global warming pollution.
“Connecticut
has been a leader in taking real action to cut global warming pollution. We
commend Connecticut’s
Representatives for their leadership in getting Congress to take global warming
seriously,” said Phelps.
