League of Conservation Voters

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.

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.

Gore Turns Up the Heat on Capitol Hill

Today former Vice President Al Gore testified before Senate and the House committees on our need to take action on global warming.

Gore asked the 535 members of Congress to rise above the daily rigors of partisan politics and meet the major challenge of our time for the sake of our children and grandchildren's future.   He reminded Congress that solving global warming is not a technological problem - we have all the tools we need to get started.  At its heart, global warming is an issue of leadership and vision.

Global warming is a profound challenge, but also provides unparalleled opportunities --  from jump-starting the new energy economy and creating new jobs to bringing us closer to energy independence and improving national security.

Props to Mr. Gore for delivering his message in person to Congress.  At LCV, we'll be working with Congress to pass legislation - like the Boxer-Sanders and Waxman bills - that will help curb global warming to secure a more hopeful future.  And we'll continue to work to elevate the issue of global warming in the 2008 presidential primary process through The Heat Is On project, a partnership project of the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

 

- Kristin Lee

The Oscars of the Political World: LCV Scores a POLLIE!

With all the Academy Award buzz in the air, the League of Conservation Voters was pleased to discover that we had been awarded two POLLIEs - the Oscars of the political world.   

LCV won a Silver POLLIE award for our Pombo Mambo ad in the Independent Expenditure Campaign/Issue Advocacy/ 527: U.S. House Category.

We also picked up a Bronze POLLIE for the Dirty Dozen Oil Slick Seven campaign in the Membership Political Mail Category.  In addition, LCV also received an honorable mention for our Dirty Dozen logo.

The POLLIE Awards were created by the American Association of Political Consultants to recognize the best of the best in political advertising.  For the full list of POLLIE Award Winners, click here.

- Kristin Lee

International Climate Experts Release Report on Global Warming

Once again, the again the world's leading climate experts are making it clear that the next occupant of the White House will need to tackle global warming to reclaim a hopeful and secure future.

Today, world-renowned climate experts released a major report with further evidence that global warming is definitely occurring and humans are the cause. The International Panel on Climate Change report was compiled by hundreds of peer-reviewed scientists and representatives of 113 governments.

This report is further proof that global warming is real, it's being caused by human activity, and it's not going away. From drowning polar bears to record-breaking temperatures, the evidence is undeniable. Now it's time to turn up the heat on the need to cool down our planet.

We know we have the solutions now to solve this challenge, and our next president will be the one to implement them here at home.

To learn more about the IPCC report, click here

To see one of many news articles on this, click here.

- Katie Rodriguez and Kristin Lee

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