League of Conservation Voters

On Eve of South Carolina Debate, Global Warming Is Front and Center

Today in South Carolina, a bipartisan group of lawmakers - including more than 2/3 of the state house and 21 state senators - released an open letter to the 2008 presidential candidates asking them to make climate change and energy policies a priority in their conversations with Palmetto State voters. From the letter signed by 44 Democrat representatives and 44 Republican representatives:

"It is going to take presidential leadership for America to usher in a new era of energy production, use and conservation.  As you visit our state over the coming year, we invite you to make climate change and energy policies a priority in your conversations with South Carolinians."

The letter comes on the heels of a new poll that shows that a majority of likely South Carolina primary voters support taking action now to curb global warming. The poll was conducted by Republican pollsters Ayres, McHenry & Associates and Democratic pollsters Hamilton Beattie & Staff on behalf of Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League. Findings from the poll include:

• Though South Carolina Republicans and Democrats disagree on the cause of global warming, they are united in agreeing that we should take action to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. 79 percent of likely South Carolina Democratic primary voters and 56 percent of Republican primary voters believe that even if the serious consequences of global warming are decades away, we have a responsibility to our children and grandchildren to take action now. 
• 87 percent of likely Democratic primary voters and 80 percent of likely Republican primary voters believe that the state and federal government should take steps to reduce fossil fuels, such as oil and coal that are used by cars, factories, and power plants.
• A majority of South Carolina primary voters strongly favor an increase in mileage standards for new cars and SUVs over the next ten years to 40 miles per gallon instead of the current 24 miles per gallon.
• In addition, a majority support requiring major reductions in the amount of global warming pollution that power plants and industries are allowed to release in the air.

Click here to read more about the open letter from South Carolina legislators. View the results from the Democratic poll here and view the results from the Republican poll here.

                                                       - Mike Palamuso

A Good Day in South Carolina

It's been a big day for global warming in South Carolina. The release of an open letter to presidential candidates asking them to address energy and global warming has been getting a huge amount of press coverage. Here's a sample:

         Associated Press:
         S.C. lawmakers to White House candidates: Define energy policies

         The Post & Courier:
         Lawmakers push environmental issues 

         WIS News 10:
         SC lawmakers ask candidates to focus on environment

         The State:
         Lawmakers push for climate change debate

Look for more in the coming days...

                                                                                  - Mike Palamuso

Getting the Picture...

The latest installment of the IPCC report confirms, once again, that global warming is occurring and that we humans are contributing to the problem. But what is most significant is that the IPCC report also contains details on the likely catastrophic effects of global warming, from more severe droughts in the west to increasingly destructive tropical storms in the Gulf Coast.  This report further reiterates our need for quick action on global warming - we hope Congress and the 2008 presidential candidates are listening.

According to economic experts such as Sir Nicholas Stern, taking action on global warming will not only be economically beneficial, it is essential to avoid a fiscal downfall.  According to Stern, a two degree Celsius increase in temperature could reduce global economic output by 3 percent.

Fortunately, several major U.S. corporations are listening.  General Electric, BP and Duke Energy now support reductions in global warming emissions.  It's exciting to see that even major power companies, some of the biggest culprits of global warming pollution, have saddled up to join the fight against global warming.  These companies realize that solving global warming is not only good business, but it will help create a new economy with new jobs based on clean energy.

Here at LCV, we will continue working to pass sound legislation to help address global warming and to help elevate the issue in the 2008 elections and beyond.

                                                                                                                        -Nicholas J. Gleichman

Kerry & Gingrich Debate Global Warming Solutions

Appearing before a standing room only crowd in the Russell Senate Office Building, Senator John Kerry and former Speaker Newt Gingrich debated the issue of global warming. However, the debate was not marked by a discussion of the existence of global warming, but rather a thoughtful exchange of ideas over how best to solve the growing climate crisis.

To solve global warming, Gingrich suggested that we need "a new science- and technology-based, entrepreneurial, market-oriented and locally led environmentalism." He later added that "regulation and litigation are the least effective ways of getting solutions."

Kerry, for his part, argued for greater government involvement to help spur necessary investments in technology. "Within the next decade, if we don't deal with global warming, our children and grandchildren will have to deal with global catastrophe. We need big changes to fix a big problem. We can't ‘middle' our way there," Kerry said.

One of the event's most interesting exchanges, though, involved the Senate's most dubious global warming denier:

Kerry: I'm excited to hear you talk about the urgency, I really am. And given that - albeit you still sort of have a different approach - what would you say to Senator Inhofe and to others in the Senate who are resisting even the science? What's your message to them here today?

Gingrich: My message I think is that the evidence is sufficient that we should move towards the most effective possible steps to reduce carbon loading of the atmosphere…

Kerry: And to it urgently, and now?

Gingrich: And do it urgently. Yes.                                                       

                                                                                      - Mike Palamuso

LCV on IPCC Report

Here is LCVEF's statement on the second IPCC report, which was released today in Belgium:

"This report adds to the mountain of evidence in favor of federal action to curb global warming. That is why in poll after poll, the American people have said that reversing global warming pollution should be a national priority. 

Climate science and political science are converging. The candidates must address this issue if they expect to win.

Since our current president is the foot-dragger-in-Chief when it comes to global warming, we need the next president to be clearly committed to tackling this issue to help reclaim a hopeful and secure future. 

By utilizing America's innovative spirit, we can cut global warming pollution by investing in clean renewable energy and developing new energy technologies that create jobs. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less."

House and Senate Budget Restore Funding For Key Environmental Programs

In another recent win for the environment and public health, Congress helped to secure approximately $32.8 billion in funding for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency in next year's budget. 

After several years of declining funding for key environmental protection, Congress this year reversed that trend by adding $2.5 billion for environmental program to the President's request. We applaud the members of Congress who worked to restore funding that the Bush Administration proposed to eliminate.  By securing these funds, there will be more resources for important programs to improve land conservation and protect public health.

Landmark Environmental Victories in the Supreme Court

The past few weeks have brought several major victories for the environment - including two landmark Supreme Court rulings in the race to address global warming.

On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected the Bush Administration's claims that it lacked the authority to regulate dangerous global warming pollution from automobiles. The court also ruled that the Administration's Environmental Protection Agency must act to reduce carbon dioxide pollution unless the agency has "some reasonable explanation" about why it won't take action.

In a second case, the Court ruled against Duke Energy Corp. for violating the Clean Air Act by failing to upgrade pollution controls when it renovated eight aging power plants.

After six long years of inaction on addressing global warming, we hope these rulings will serve as a wake-up call for the Bush Administration and Congress to get moving on global warming solutions. Both victories add to the increasing momentum for congressional action to curb global warming and invest in clean energy solutions.

Here at LCV, we will continue to build on these landmark victories to protect public health and our environment. Specifically, we will continue working with Congress to help pass important legislation that will address global warming and help jump-start the new clean energy economy, such as the Markey-Platts fuel economy bill, the Udall-Platts renewable electricity standard bill, and Waxman's global warming legislation.