Call for
Controls on Power Plants, Cars – the main culprits
Global
warming pollution in Michigan jumped 46% while
almost doubling nationally between 1960 and 2001, according to The Carbon Boom, a new analysis of
government data released today by the Environment Michigan
Research & Policy Center. Increased coal emissions and oil emissions
were responsible for 21% and 31% of this increase, respectively.
“When
you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop
digging. To protect future generations
from the effects of global warming, we need to stop this trend of increasing
pollution,” said Jason Barbose, field organizer for Environment Michigan.
The
report calls for increasing vehicle fuel efficiency and curbing coal-fired
power plants, two hot topics in Michigan. Existing energy efficiency and renewable
energy technologies could substantially reduce global warming pollution, but federal
and state government have so far rejected mandatory pollution limits.
Using
data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
Environment Michigan’s new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions
and fossil fuel combustion nationally and by state between 1960 and 2001, the
most recent year for which state-by-state data are available. Major findings of the report include:
- Michigan emitted 129.4 million
metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960; by 2001, the state’s emissions had
grown to 189.1 million metric tons, an increase of 46%.
- Nationwide,
emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping
from 2.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960 to almost 5.7
billion metric tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent.
- A dramatic growth
in oil combustion in the transportation sector and coal combustion for
electricity generation fueled the rapid increase in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions
between 1960 and 2001. Increased
coal and oil combustion each accounted for 40% of the increase in carbon
dioxide emissions.
- In Michigan, increased
oil combustion – largely to fuel cars and light trucks – accounted for 31%
of the state’s increase in carbon dioxide emissions from 1960 to
2001. Vehicle travel increased
dramatically over the period, while the fuel efficiency of U.S.
vehicles stalled in the late 1980s.
The number of miles driven on Michigan roads increased from 32,608
million in 1960 to 98,987 million in 2001, an increase of 136%. Increased combustion of coal and natural
gas contributed 21% and 48%, respectively, of the state’s growth in
emissions from 1960 to 2001.
The
early effects of global warming are evident in Michigan and worldwide. According to NASA, 2005 was the warmest year
ever recorded. Left unchecked, global
warming threatens to substantially raise sea levels, cause more frequent and
extreme droughts and heat waves, and lower Great Lakes
water levels.
The
U.S.
could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing
technologies to make power plants and cars more efficient and increase the use
of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and
biomass, noted Barbose. “These are win,
win solutions because they also would reduce our dependence on oil, reduce air
pollution, protect pristine places from oil drilling and mining, and save
consumers money,” he said.
Oil
companies – led by ExxonMobil – automakers, and most electric utilities
continue to fight common sense solutions to global warming, Barbose pointed
out. For instance, ExxonMobil gave at
least $15 million between 1998 and 2004 to groups working to confuse the public
about the broad scientific consensus on the causes of and solutions to global
warming.
In
Michigan, the
automakers have been effective so far in blocking increases in Corporate
Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) since 1975, although a Congressional vote is
expected this week. Moreover, Michigan’s utilities are promoting a controversial
proposal to build new coal-fired power plants, an action that would increase Michigan’s global
warming pollution.
Yesterday, Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) introduced the Safe Climate Act,
which provides a long-term, science-based solution to global warming.
The bill requires the U.S. to reduce its global warming pollution by
15% from today's levels by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. To achieve these
targets, the bill calls for improved energy efficiency and a greater
reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, while providing companies
flexibility in meeting the pollution-reduction goals through a
"cap-and-trade" program.
Rep. Waxman commented that the report “shows state-by-state how the
problem has been growing for decades. Now is the time to heed the
scientists and start healing the climate. The Safe Climate Act will
dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the levels needed
to avoid dangerous global warming. We start now and increase
improvements over time, as we replace dirty old energy sources with
clean renewable energy and energy efficiency."
In the U.S. Senate, a
sign-on letter on stopping global warming is circulating. “Our leaders must take decisive action to
stop the worst effects of global warming.
We call on Senator Levin and Senator Stabenow to sign the letter urging
President Bush to support real reductions in global warming pollution,”
concluded Barbose.
