League of Conservation Voters

Global Warming Ads Launched in New Hampshire

On the eve of the first New Hampshire Democratic and Republican debates, the League of Conservation Voters and Granite State Conservation Voters are running newspaper ads to coincide with the debates. The ads, running in the New Hampshire Union Leader today and Monday, urge the 2008 presidential candidates to make addressing global warming a top priority.

Click here to view the the ads.

- Mike

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."

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.

Climate Crisis Action Day Draws Thousands

Yesterday thousands of concerned citizens from across the country gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol building to personally deliver one clear message to Congress and the President: global warming is real and the American people want their leaders in Washington to take quick action to address global warming.

These citizens realize that while the challenge of global warming is great, so too are the opportunities presented by the solutions.  By investing in clean renewable energy like solar and wind power, they know that we can reduce our dangerous dependence on oil while creating new jobs and curbing global warming pollution.

It was encouraging to see thousands who came to Washington to make their voices heard.   

Several key members of Congress were at the event to hear their call for action on global warming, including Environment and Public Works Chair Senator Barbara Boxer, Senators John Kerry and Bernie Sanders, as well as House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee Chair Ed Markey, Committee on Oversight and Public Affairs Committee Chair Henry Waxman, and Representatives Mike Honda and Jim Ramstad. 

Each of these members of Congress spoke about their commitment to take real action on global warming, as well as their commitment to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Here at LCV, we will continue to work to help solve the challenge of our generation by getting our country on track to seriously reduce global warming pollution by two percent each year - which will lead to the 80 percent reductions scientists are calling for by 2050.

Al Gore Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

This has been quite a month for Al Gore. Last week, "An Inconvenient Truth" was nominated for two Academy Awards. Today Al Gore was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.  What award will he be nominated for next?!

Al Gore deserves considerable applause for his efforts to tell the story of global warming in theaters, auditoriums and living rooms across the country and around the world. He spent many lonely days in airports around the country spreading the gospel on why global warming is a problem and what we can do about it.

Thanks in no small part to Al Gore's work, the public now understands that global warming is one of the biggest challenges we'll face in the future. He also helped to elevate the issue and jumpstart the conversation in Congress on global warming solutions. It's so refreshing to see debates about action to combat global warming, rather than debating whether or not it even exists.

From evangelicals to CEO's to scientists, the debate has changed to what plan of action is needed to stop global warming pollution. And for the first time, the majority of 2008 presidential candidates are regularly talking about this important, global problem.

- Kristin Lee

House Chairman Suggests White House is Censoring Government Scientists

This week during hearings on global warming in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Harry Waxman (D-CA) had some strong words to say about the administration and their possible censoring of government climate scientists.

Mr. Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis (R-VA) have been requesting the administration 's documents on climate change, seeking answers to whether the administration has been censoring government scientists on global warming as claimed by NASA climate scientist James Hanson in yesterday's New York Times. The administration has refused to answer the question or release any documents.

Representative Waxman said, " We know that the White House possesses documents that contain evidence of an attempt by senior administration officials to mislead the public by injecting doubt into the science of global warming and minimize the potential danger."

The administration has been unwilling to take any steps towards implementing solutions to global warming. By withholding scientific information on global warming they are exascerbating their disservice to the public. Americans deserve an open and honest discussion on the serious problem of global warming and we need all the information in order to do that.

For more information, see the NY Times and CNN.

-Katie Rodriguez

Global Warming Skeptics Slam Weather Channel Climate Expert

Global warming skeptics are continuing to slam Dr. Heidi Cullen, the Weather Channel's climate expert and host of the weekly show The Climate Code for her blog post calling on local meteorologists to use sound science when talking about global warming.

"Meteorologists have a responsibility to truly educate themselves on the science of global warming. Meteorologists are among the few people trained in the sciences who are permitted regular access to our living rooms. And in that sense, they owe it to their audience to distinguish between solid, peer-reviewed science and junk political controversy,” said Dr. Cullen in her blog post about the meteorologists and global warming.

Despite the overwhelming consensus [by groups like NASA and  the American Association for Advancement of Science ] in the scientific community that global warming is occurring and should be addressed immediately, skeptics continue to attack Dr. Cullen and others.   

Skeptics are clearly out of the mainstream and are trying to squelch science.  There is a tidal wave of support to take action on global warming, including major corporations such as GE, evangelical churches and scientists who have joined forces to call on President Bush and Congress to take real action to address global warming.  Congressional Leaders from John McCain to Nancy Pelosi are talking about the importance of finding real solutions  to slow climate change.  Instead of slamming Dr. Cullen for daring to suggest that critics of global warming use real studies to back up their claims, it's time these critics join in a real, substantive dialogue on solutions to address global warming.   In the meantime, the rest of us should stand up in support of those like Dr. Heidi Cullen. Please share your support of Dr. Cullen on this blog and on the Weather Channel blog.

-Katie Rodriguez