Decreasing vehicle
travel and increasing fuel economy standards key
Ann Arbor, Mich. — Just weeks after the strongest global warming legislation
in history was introduced in Congress, a new report
released today by Environment Michigan Research & Policy Center shows how Michigan
and the rest of the U.S. can meet – and even exceed – the legislation’s goals. The report finds that we can reduce global
warming emissions by nearly 20 percent within the next 15 years by decreasing
our dependence on foreign oil and investing in renewable energy.
Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to Cut Global
Warming Pollution in the United States
is the first report to provide a blueprint for achieving the short-term cuts in
emissions that science shows are needed to put us on a path to avoid the worst effects
of a warming world.
“Michigan is in a unique position as the
automobile capitol of the world,” said Abby Rubley, field organizer with
Environment Michigan. “We have an
opportunity to create jobs, reduce global warming pollution and decrease our
dependence on foreign oil. This is a
win-win-win,” said Rubley.
The report details six challenging
but feasible steps to improve the energy efficiency of our economy and use more
renewable energy. These strategies, coupled
with strong, mandatory limits on global warming emissions, would reduce U.S. global
warming emissions by 19% below 2004 levels by 2020 (see chart below). At the same time, the steps would improve
American’s long-term economic and energy security. The six steps include:
1. Stabilize vehicle travel. Americans
drive nearly twice as many miles per year as they did a quarter-century ago,
leading to increased emissions of global warming pollutants. We are already cutting back on driving as a
result of higher gasoline prices, but many Michiganders have few realistic
alternatives to driving. Through changes
in public policy and development patterns, Michiganders and all Americans can
be given more transportation choices, thus reducing the growth in vehicle
travel.
2. Increase vehicle fuel economy standards to 40 miles
per gallon and set fuel economy standards for large trucks. Establishing
federal fuel economy standards for cars during the 1970s succeeded in reducing
gasoline consumption and oil imports, as well as global warming pollution. But the fuel economy of new vehicles is now
lower than it was during most of the Reagan administration. All types of vehicles – from SUVs to compact
cars – can be designed to be far more energy efficient using technologies that
already exist or will soon be available.
Similarly, major improvements in fuel economy are possible for
heavy-duty trucks, which are currently exempt from fuel economy standards.
3. Replace 10% of vehicle fuel with biofuels or other
clean alternatives. Ethanol and biodiesel that are produced
cleanly and sustainably have the potential to significantly reduce global
warming emissions from transportation, especially if these biofuels are
produced from plant wastes and cellulose.
Other vehicle technologies – like “plug-in” hybrids, electric vehicles
and fuel cell vehicles – have the potential to dramatically reduce global
warming emissions in the future.
4. Reduce energy consumption in homes, business, and
industry by 10% from current levels. Dramatic improvements in energy efficiency
are possible in virtually every aspect of American life. For now, the Michigan
and the rest of the U.S.
can encourage weatherization of buildings, deployment of more efficient
appliances and equipment, and efficiency improvements in industry. Soon, using new technologies such as those in
zero-energy homes, we can transform the way we consume energy and achieve even
larger improvements in efficiency.
5. Obtain 20% of our electricity from new renewable
energy sources. We have virtually limitless potential for the
generation of power from natural forces. By ramping up our use of wind power, solar
power, geothermal and biomass energy, and other renewable forms of energy – and
using much of that energy to replace power production at dirty, coal-fired
power plants – Michigan and the rest of the U.S. could
dramatically reduce global warming emissions from electric power production.
6. Hold emissions from other sources to current levels. The five
strategies listed above would address the largest sources of energy use and
global warming emissions in Michigan and rest
of the U.S. But some other sources of global warming
pollution – such as emissions from air travel and emissions of some non-carbon
dioxide global warming gases – are projected to increase significantly in the
years ahead. We must stabilize, and
eventually reduce, global warming pollution from all sectors of the economy.
“Taking these steps would be
a sizable down payment on the larger pollution reductions that we will need to
achieve in the decades ahead to keep global warming in check,” said Rubley.
To avoid the worst
consequences of global warming, the U.S. must stabilize emissions
within the next decade, begin reducing them soon thereafter, and cut global
warming pollution by 80% by the middle of this century.
“The potential payback from
these efforts is tremendous—both in avoided economic and environmental impacts
from global warming and in the establishment of a more secure energy future. The result would be a cleaner, more
sustainable foundation on which to build our economy for the 21st century,”
said Mike Shriberg, Director of
Environment Michigan.
Earlier this summer, Rep.
Henry Waxman of California and Sen. James
Jeffords of Vermont introduced legislation
that would reduce U.S.
global warming emissions by 13% below 2004 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2004
levels by 2050. Environment Michigan strongly urges
Senators Levin and Stabenow to cosponsor the legislation.
Global Warming Emissions Impact of the
Six Steps (million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent)
|
Strategy
|
Savings MMTCO2E
|
|
Stabilize Vehicle Travel
|
0*
|
|
40 MPG Fuel Economy and
Heavy-Duty Truck Fuel Economy Standards
|
383
|
|
10% of Transportation Fuel
from Renewables
|
61
|
|
10% Reduction in Energy
Consumption
|
400
|
|
20% of Electricity from New
Renewables
|
511
|
|
Total Savings
|
1355
|
|
2004 U.S. Global
Warming Emissions
|
7122
|
|
Reduction Relative to 2004
|
19%
|
* Avoids increase in emissions resulting from
projected increases in vehicle travel between now and 2020.
