|
Portsmouth, NH (February 14, 2002) — "The
fuzzy math behind the Bush climate plan would make an Enron auditor
proud," says Adam Markham, Executive Director of Clean Air-Cool
Planet (CA-CP). "The President basically announced that he intends
to maintain the country's greenhouse gas emissions on the same upward
trajectory we have endured for the last decade, probably leading to
a 14 % increase by 2010. By contrast, the science is unambiguous: restoring
the climate to stable conditions requires cuts of 60 to 80%."
Contrary to President Bush's assertion that efforts to slow global
warming will harm the economy, businesses and institutions throughout
the Northeast are demonstrating daily that measures to reduce greenhouse
gases invariably boost the bottom line. Examples of regional climate
leadership include:
- Verizon Communications, the nation's largest telecommunications
provider, recently made a $25 million capital investment in energy
savings that paid for itself in just two years. Now Verizon is reaping
$20 million in annual savings.
- The mayor of Burlington, Vermont, and the people of his city have
pledged to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent-156,000
tons-by 2005. This reduction translates to saving approximately 782
barrels of oil per day, or taking 21,398 vehicles off the road per
year. Details...
- In August of 2001, the New England governors and the Eastern Canadian
premiers resolved in their Climate
Change Action Plan that greenhouse gas emissions must come down
by approximately 75-85% of current levels to safeguard our climate.
- Earlier this year, Senators Jeffords (I-VT) and Lieberman (D-CT)
introduced the Clean
Power Bill, which includes capping CO2
emissions from power plants at 1990 levels.
- Since 1999, Tufts
University has taken steps to "meet or beat" the 7%
greenhouse gas reduction target set for the United States under the
Kyoto Protocol.
- According to a 2000 economic study, shifting New England toward
more advanced energy technologies and cleaner resources would increase
employment in the region by more than 41,000 jobs by 2010. Details...
"Here in New England, we know what real climate leadership looks
like and we know it can't be achieved by voluntary measures alone,"
says Markham. "The President's new plan, with its complete lack
of a hard carbon reduction target, only undermines the cutting-edge
climate efforts-both regulatory and voluntary-that New England is becoming
known for."
About Clean Air-Cool Planet
Clean Air- Cool Planet inspires coordinated action among citizens, businesses,
government, and community leaders throughout the Northeast to achieve
reductions in greenhouse gases. CA-CP has forged effective partnerships
with major businesses and corporations in the region, including Shaw’s
Supermarkets, The Timberland Company, and Verizon. Visit www.cleanair-coolplanet.org.
Contact: Clean Air-Cool Planet
Bill Burtis, Communications Manager, (603) 422-6464 ext. 105
bburtis@cleanair-coolplanet.org
|
