Wind turbine crop circle.
The Act is a scientifically based solution that would by 2050;
reduce America's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent compared to
1990 levels. This is urgently needed to stop climate change
spiralling out of control.
The reductions may seem like a big ask, but luckily we have the
solution - investment in renewable energy technologies, and massive
improvements in the ways we use energy, make the goals entirely
plausible.
Crop circle boosts campaign
The campaign had a great boost this week, when Congressman Dave
Loebsack in Iowa changed his mind and agreed to sign up to the Act.
He had previously told Greenpeace that though he was concerned
about global warming, he would be unable to commit to the Safe
Climate Act.
So Greenpeace and local grassroots groups created a very clear
message, a crop circle of a wind turbine in an Iowan cornfield. The
demand was simple "Congress: deliver renewable energy solutions to
climate change."
And it worked, Loebsack signed the very next day.
Greenpeace is calling on Iowa to have at least 20 per cent of
its energy come from renewable technologies by 2020. This alone
would create 5,080 jobs, one and half times more than generating
electricity from fossil fuels does. Consumers would save a massive
$400 million (US) in lower electricity and natural gas bills, and
the greenhouse gas emission reductions would equal a massive 71
million cars off the road. Hopefully, Loebsack colleague, Representative LeonardBoswell, will soon follow suit.
As Kelly Mitchell from Greenpeace USA put it "the solutions to
global warming are right here in the fields of Iowa."
Dutch court rules that term "clean coal" is misleading
Meanwhile, Greenpeace Netherlands had a court victory this week,
when the Dutch Advertising Authority (ACA) ruled that use of terms
such as "clean coal" and "clean fuel" by Dutch energy giant NUON
are "misleading."
NUON must now stop using "clean coal" in its print and web
adverts. The ruling shows that "clean coal" is a contradiction in
terms and that aggressive marketing of it is nothing more than a
desperate attempt by the coal industry to make itself relevant in
the face of climate change.
Join project hot seat
Help get the Safe Climate Act passed by the US Congress.
Donate
We don't accept money from governments or corporations -- and our financial independence is what allows us to pressure both. We rely on over 2 million people worldwide who give whatever they can. Please join us.