What's At Stake?

Thank Your Legislators for Supporting New Global Warming Bills

A February 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that global warming is happening and is primarily the result of human activities. The report warns that continued warming will bring stronger storms, rising sea levels, and more intense rain and floods.

Scientists say we can avoid the worst effects of global warming by preventing average global temperatures from rising more than 3.6° Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels. To have a good chance of remaining below this threshold, we must reduce global warming pollution enough to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide equivalent at 450 parts per million. This requires a global emission reduction of 50 percent by mid century. Since the United States and other developed countries are responsible for the majority of past and current global warming pollution, we must achieve reductions on the order of 80 percent by mid century. To that end, Senators Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) are backing two critical science-backed bills that would require a gradual global warming emission reduction of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

To help achieve these reductions, both bills call for a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiency—solutions that will have far-reaching positive changes, such as reducing air pollution, creating new jobs, and reducing our dependence on oil.

The 80 percent goal is consistent with the emission reduction targets announced by United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and seven New England states.

Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act
In January 2007, Senators Sanders and Boxer built on the leadership of retired Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) when they reintroduced the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S.309). This bill sets emission reduction targets aimed at keeping temperatures below the danger point determined by scientists. S.309 achieves these targets through a flexible economy-wide cap on global warming emissions, along with measures to advance technology and reduce emissions through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and cleaner cars.

Specifically, the bill would reduce emissions by two percent each year from 2010-2020, with further reduction milestones of 27 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, 53 percent below 1990 levels by 2040, and 80 percent below 1990 levels in 2050.

View the text of the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (pdf).

The Waxman Safe Climate Act
The Waxman bill would also reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The Waxman approach freezes U.S. global warming emissions in 2010, at the 2009 levels. Beginning in 2011, it would cut emissions by roughly 2 percent each year, reaching 1990 emissions levels by 2020. After 2020, it cuts emissions by roughly five percent each year. By 2050, emissions will be 80 percent lower than in 1990.

View the text of the Safe Climate Act (pdf).

To learn more about the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, visit http://www.ipcc.ch/

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	What's At Stake? Thank Your Legislators for Supporting New Global Warming Bills A February 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that global warming is happening and is primarily the result of human activities. The report warns that continued warming will bring stronger storms, rising sea levels, and more intense rain and floods. Scientists say we can avoid the worst effects of global warming by preventing average global temperatures from rising more than 3.6° Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels. To have a good chance of remaining below this threshold, we must reduce global warming pollution enough to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide equivalent at 450 parts per million. This requires a global emission reduction of 50 percent by mid century. Since the United States and other developed countries are responsible for the majority of past and current global warming pollution, we must achieve reductions on the order of 80 percent by mid century. To that end, Senators Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) are backing two critical science-backed bills that would require a gradual global warming emission reduction of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. To help achieve these reductions, both bills call for a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiency—solutions that will have far-reaching positive changes, such as reducing air pollution, creating new jobs, and reducing our dependence on oil. The 80 percent goal is consistent with the emission reduction targets announced by United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and seven New England states. Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act In January 2007, Senators Sanders and Boxer built on the leadership of retired Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) when they reintroduced the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S.309). This bill sets emission reduction targets aimed at keeping temperatures below the danger point determined by scientists. S.309 achieves these targets through a flexible economy-wide cap on global warming emissions, along with measures to advance technology and reduce emissions through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and cleaner cars. Specifically, the bill would reduce emissions by two percent each year from 2010-2020, with further reduction milestones of 27 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, 53 percent below 1990 levels by 2040, and 80 percent below 1990 levels in 2050. View the text of the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (pdf). The Waxman Safe Climate Act The Waxman bill would also reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The Waxman approach freezes U.S. global warming emissions in 2010, at the 2009 levels. Beginning in 2011, it would cut emissions by roughly 2 percent each year, reaching 1990 emissions levels by 2020. After 2020, it cuts emissions by roughly five percent each year. By 2050, emissions will be 80 percent lower than in 1990. View the text of the Safe Climate Act (pdf). To learn more about the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, visit http://www.ipcc.ch/ Go Back