The United States accounts for less than 5 percent of the world’s population, but it produces about 25 percent of the world’s global warming pollution. Substantial scientific evidence shows that we can avoid many of the most dangerous consequences of climate change if we take action today to substantially reduce our global warming pollution.
The United States should reduce its heat-trapping emissions at least 80 percent below 2000 levels by mid-century, and set a near-term goal of reductions of 15-20 percent below 2000 levels by 2020. Other nations must greatly reduce their emissions as well.
Global warming is one of the most serious threats the United States has ever faced. To protect our children and future generations, we strongly support reducing the nation's global warming pollution at least 15 percent from today's levels by 2020 and at least 80 percent by 2050.
Global warming pollution from U.S. sources continues to rise, increasing 16 percent from 1990 to 2005. Unless we take action, the Energy Information Administration projects that U.S. energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal heat-trapping gas, will increase 20 to 45 percent between 2007 and 2030. Power plants and passenger vehicles are the largest U.S. sources, responsible for approximately 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively, of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
As pollution from these sources continues to increase, temperatures will continue to rise, and the effects of global warming will become more severe. We can prevent the worst effects of global warming and protect our children and future generations, if the United States acts decisively to reduce global warming pollution.
Fortunately, we can start with the technologies available today. We can make power plants and factories more efficient, make cars go farther on a gallon of gasoline, and rely more heavily on cleaner sources of power, such as biofuels, wind, and solar. These are win-win solutions because they also will reduce our dependence on oil, create new jobs and economic opportunities, reduce air pollution, and protect pristine places from drilling and mining.
To protect our children and future generations, we urge U.S. policy makers to put our nation onto a path today to reduce emissions at least 80 percent below 2000 levels by 2050. The first step on this path should be reductions of at least 15 percent below 2000 levels by 2020.
Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]
