Media release - October 2, 2008
Washington—In contrast to the government’s absence of leadership in response to the financial crisis, today 152 members of Congress outlined the strongest plan yet to address the global warming crisis in a statement of principles delivered to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The legislative blueprint offers hope the United States will take meaningful action on global warming in 2009 and reflect the growing power of the national movement calling for solutions to the climate crisis.
The letter follows a national effort by Greenpeace activists,
volunteers, and a coalition of environmental, faith-based, human
rights, and labor organizations to educate their leaders about the
dangers of global warming and the benefits of swift action. We
applaud Reps. Waxman, Markey, and Inslee for championing these
principles, which propose a multi-faceted approach to solving
global warming by capping greenhouse gas emissions, investing in
clean energy sources, energy efficency, and kicking our addiction
to dirty and dangerous fossil fuels. The principles show that the
solutions to our economic crisis and to global warming can be one
and the same.
"Having this many members of Congress stand for strong solutions
to global warming shows the power of this amazing coalition," said
Greenpeace USA Executive Director John Passacantando. "People of
faith, working families, and businesses are all worried about the
impact of global warming on the environment and the economy, and
it's time the rest of Congress listened to them too."
The principles lay out the signers' key expectations for any
global warming legislation. They demand strong, science-based
emissions targets that would achieve at least 25% reductions by
2020 and a long-term target to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
by 80% by 2050. The principles also call for auctioning emission
allowances rather than giving them to polluters; investing auction
revenues in clean energy and efficiency technologies; and returning
revenues to consumers, workers, and communities to help them
transition to a new energy economy. The principles would protect
the right of states to go even further, and includes measures to
protect against trade disadvantages to U.S. industry. Finally, the
principles call for dedicating a portion of auction revenues to
help address harm from the impacts of global warming that are now
unavoidable.
"Tackling the global warming crisis demands the full commitment
of all levels of government, and 152 members of Congress have taken
an important step by outlining a blueprint for success,"
said Passacantando. "We need Congress and the new presidential
administration to come together and turn these ideas into action by
passing comprehensive, science-based legislation as soon as
possible."
Other contacts: CONTACT: Mike Crocker, Media Officer Greenpeace USA,
202-215-8989