Global Warming and Energy

There is no longer any question that human activity is causing global warming. The latest report by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases from human activity has played a central role in raising the average surface temperature of the earth by more than one degree Fahrenheit since 1900 and that without quick and effective action to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of these gases, the ecological systems we rely upon to sustain life will be in jeopardy. 

Global warming is the most serious environmental threat of our time. Already, we are experiencing global warming impacts worldwide, including more severe storms, prolonged forest fire seasons, floods and droughts, agricultural losses and increased human disease. The United States is the top global warming polluter in the world, with a 20 percent increase since 1990 of carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and another 15 percent increase forecast by 2020 without a change in regulation. 

Here in Illinois, climate change directly affects our people and wildlife. If unchecked, global warming would have an impact on our water supplies and farming, wildlife habitat and human health. The Union of Concerned Scientists has projected in Illinois an increase in droughts, a loss of wetlands, a potential increase in ground-level ozone, heavier flooding and increased risk of waterborne infectious diseases.

The new administration in Washington D.C. has expressed the need to address global warming, but Illinois doesn't have to wait until the federal government takes action.  Illinois can play a part in fighting global climate change right now, just as dozens of other states are already doing. For example, 14 states have adopted clean-car standards that would reduce automobile global warming pollution by 30 percent. In addition, nine Northeast states have a power-sector cap, and six Western states are designing their emissions regime. Opportunities exist for Illinois to join a similar program here in the Midwest.

Taking action to design and adopt our own global warming policies now is in the best interests of our citizens and our industry. First, global warming action not only helps protect our climate, but it also improves our economy, creating jobs and leaving consumers with more disposable income. Second, global warming policies also improve public health by eliminating harmful air pollutants. Finally, states that act early will have more ability to shape the national global warming approach.

With this in mind, the Illinois Climate Action Network is working with state legislators in the 2009 legisation session to garner support for four measures: the Illinois Clean Cars Act, Greenhouse Cap and Invest Program, Energy Efficient Building Act and Natural Gas Efficiency Portfolio Standard.  For fact sheets on each of these bills, visit our homepage or click here.