The U.S. Congress just passed a stimulus package that includes strong provisions promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency – an important down payment on our country's transition to a cleaner energy future. But the science is clear and urgent: to prevent the worst effects of global warming, Congress must go further, and it must act now.
As Congress turns to critical legislation to set a limit on our global warming pollution and make polluters pay for their emissions, we need your help to tell Congress that effective climate policy must:
* Reduce global warming emissions swiftly and deeply, and ensure a rapid policy adjustment in response to emerging climate science;
* Make emissions cuts affordable and achievable by investing in clean energy, energy efficiency and programs to protect consumers and workers;
* Fund programs that reduce global warming pollution caused by tropical deforestation, which accounts for 20 percent of global emissions; and
* Exclude loopholes that would let polluters delay or avoid emissions reductions.
Comprehensive climate policy can curb global warming while breaking our dependence on oil and putting Americans back to work. Please tell your lawmakers to pass a strong climate bill immediately.
Subject: Passage of a strong climate bill must be Congress's next priority
Dear Senators and Representative,
Comprehensive climate policy can curb global warming while breaking our dependence on oil and putting Americans back to work. With the science growing more alarming every day, we must act now to deeply reduce the global warming pollution that comes from burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests.
[Your personal comments will be added here.]
To avoid the worst effects of global warming, climate legislation must:
* require science-based U.S. emissions reductions of 35 percent below current levels by 2020 and at least 80 percent by 2050 and ensure a rapid policy response to emerging climate science;
* make emissions cuts affordable and achievable by requiring polluters to pay for their global warming emissions and investing the revenue in clean energy, energy efficiency, and protections for consumers and workers;
* invest at least 4 percent of the revenue in programs that prevent tropical deforestation, which accounts for 20 percent of global emissions; and
* exclude loopholes--such as unlimited "offsets" that allow polluters to postpone emissions cuts in their own facilities and "safety valves" that limit the fees polluters must pay for their emissions. These dangerous loopholes would let polluters delay or avoid needed pollution reductions.
To affordably achieve emissions reductions, we also need policies that increase our reliance on clean, renewable energy and accelerate implementation of fuel economy standards.
Please help ensure a safe climate and strong economy for our children by making passage of a strong climate bill a top priority.
