Last Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives approved funding
for a new select committee on global warming and energy independence. We applaud Speaker Pelosi for focusing on
this important problem. California Representatives Hilda Solis and
Jerry McNerney, both of whom are strong environmental leaders, were appointed
to the committee.
Global warming is one of the greatest challenges facing the U.S. and the world,
and our dependence on oil threatens our environment, economy and national
security. California has already taken the lead on
stopping global warming by passing AB 32 last year, and now it is time for Congress
to do the same.
According to a report released last month, the world’s
scientists are more than 90% certain that human activity – primarily burning
fossil fuels to power cars, power plants, and factories – is responsible for
most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th
century, according to a consensus report released early this morning.
There is no question that America has the technological know-how
to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and cut global warming pollution. By
harnessing our vast reserves of clean, homegrown, renewable energy like wind
and solar to power our homes and businesses we can reduce our dependence on
fossil fuels while building a cleaner and more secure economy. By making cars
go farther on a gallon of gasoline, we can reduce our dependence on foreign
oil. We can also cut power plant
pollution, which is the leading contributor to global warming. But with energy
prices surging, war raging in the Middle East,
and global warming threatening our future, we need to act now.
It is time for our leaders in Congress to choose the path
toward a new energy future. Climate
scientists warn that the world faces dire consequences unless we immediately
and significantly reduce emissions of the pollutants that cause global warming.
We look forward to working with Representatives Solis and
McNerney, and all the relevant committees to enact solutions that harness America’s technological
know-how to reduce global warming pollution while ushering in a new energy
future.
