Important legislation was introduced today in Washington D.C. to help the nation fight global warming. The Safe Climate Act would limit global warming pollution to levels that current science says are needed to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of nearly 125 members led by Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), the chair of the House Oversight Committee and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“National support for strong, science-based legislation to fight global warming is critically important. Global warming is the most important environmental challenge of our time, and future generations will judge us by how we handle it,” said Lauren Ketcham, Environmental Advocate at Environment New Mexico.
The world’s leading scientific institutions have long been united in recognizing the grave threat posed by human-caused global warming, a fact underscored by the recent report by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which called the evidence that global warming is occurring “unequivocal.”
Now, many scientists are also warning that time is running out to prevent the worst effects of global warming. NASA’s chief climatologist, Dr. James Hansen, has said that we must begin to reduce global warming pollution within 10 years or risk climate change that would result in “practically a different planet.”
New Mexico has been leading the way on state-based solutions to global warming, but to date, there has been little meaningful action on the issue. In 2004, New Mexico passed its first Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), or the amount of energy that comes from renewable sources like solar and wind, setting a standard for 10% by 2011. Just days ago, the New Mexico legislature voted to increase the state’s RPS to 20% by 2020. During the 2007 legislature, New Mexico also passed legislation to create a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority, Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits and a Solar Ready Roof bill, which directs the Construction Industries Division and the Construction Industries Commission to adopt new building standards which will enable solar installation. Governor Richardson has also voiced his support for a Clean Cars program, which will help to dramatically reduce global warming pollution from cars by 34% and trucks by 25%.
The Safe Climate Act, first introduced in June 2006, would reduce total U.S. global warming emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (a 15% reduction from today’s levels) and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. To achieve these emission reductions, the bill calls for a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy and improved energy efficiency.
“Energy efficiency and renewable energy are common sense solutions to reduce global warming pollution, but we have to put them to use. These technologies also will reduce our dependence on oil and other dirty fossil fuels,” said Ketcham.
“Although New Mexico has been a leader on global warming, sadly no member of New Mexico’s congressional delegation has cosponsored the Safe Climate Act to date. We urge Representatives Tom Udall, Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce to cosponsor this critical bill to protect future generations of New Mexicans,” concluded Ketcham.
