Environment Massachusetts Wants to See Progress at Copenhagen

World leaders are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, right now to address global warming and to develop a plan to combat it. As the world’s largest emitter of human-caused carbon dioxide pollution, and second-largest emitter of global warming pollution, America has a responsibility to take initiative in passing strict international global warming pollution limits. 

Environment Massachusetts and Environment America urge President Barack Obama to follow the states' example and forge a strong international agreement to address global warming during the Copenhagen talks. He should work for a plan that will deliver sufficient emission reductions to prevent an increase in global average temperatures of more than 3.6° F (2° C) above pre-industrial levels. A plan that accomplishes this would help the world avoid the most damaging impacts of global warming.

Though US involvement in an international agreement is absolutely vital, individual American states are already doing a great deal to fight global warming on their own. A study done by Environment America suggests that state actions will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 536 million metric tons by 2020.

"That is more global warming pollution than is currently emitted by all but eight of the world’s nations, and represents approximately 7 percent of U.S. global warming pollution in 2007."

Consider this: Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland and New Jersey produce nearly a quarter of America’s economic output and 13 percent of its fossil fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions. If these six states were a separate country, they would rank as the world’s fifth-largest economy and seventh-leading emitter of carbon dioxide. All six of these states have adopted binding caps on global warming pollution from their respective state economies, an action that will definitely have an impact on the global climate.

Clearly the United States is ready to commit to emission reductions and continue the steps toward clean energy that individual states have taken. The US as a whole should commit to a 35 percent reduction in global warming pollution from 2005 levels by 2020, and an 83 percent reduction by 2050. Individual states should continue to move forward with effective implementation of existing policies while continuing to switch to clean energy.

Have you been following the news about the Copenhagen talks? What results would you like to see? Let us know in the comments.