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Most Recent NewsPlug-in Electric Cars Can Lower Global Warming Emissions, Oil Consumption, and Unhealthy Air Pollution 1/20/2010Increasing America’s use of plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid cars would dramatically reduce emissions that cause global warming and air pollution and would curb our dependence on oil, according to a new white paper released by Environment Illinois. Plug-in Cars: Powering America Toward a Cleaner Future answers many questions about plug-in vehicles and lays out a strategy for how to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road. It highlights data from existing research to show that electric vehicles can help to improve Americans’ standards of living. Toxic Chemical DecaBDE: EPA Says Phase It Out 12/17/2009The toxic, endocrine disrupting chemical decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) will be largely phased out of the United States marketplace, according to an announcement today from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has obtained commitments from decaBDE's two U.S. manufacturers and largest U.S. importer to stop producing, using, and importing the chemical by 2013. Illinois, Other States Leading Fight to Solve Global Warming 12/04/2009The United States, long considered a laggard in addressing global warming, is poised to achieve large reductions in global warming pollution thanks to clean energy policies adopted over the past decade by state governments, according to a new report by the Environment America Research & Policy Center. Illinois ranks 3rd among all states in expected emission reductions. Most Recent ReportsPlug-in Cars: Powering America Toward a Cleaner Future 1/20/2010America’s current fleet of gasoline-powered cars and trucks leaves us dependent on oil, contributes to air pollution problems that threaten our health, and produces large amounts of global warming pollution. “Plug-in” cars are emerging as an effective way to lower global warming emissions, oil use, and smog. The technology needed to build workable plug-in vehicles exists today, but it will take a coherent strategy and concerted action in order to take full advantage of the potential of plug-in vehicles. America on the Move: State Leadership in the Fight Against Global Warming and What it Means for the World 12/04/2009A review of dozens of individual state policies 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. America's Biggest Polluters: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Power Plants in 2007 11/24/2009Our long-time dependence on fossil fuels is a threat to our future. Most importantly, it fuels global warming—the most profound environmental problem of our time, with ever growing impacts that will impose threats to our safety and immense financial cost on our society. Power plants are the single largest source of U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the main pollutant that fuels global warming. This report examines CO2 emissions of America's power plants. We analyze 2007 plant-by-plant data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Acid Rain Program; 2007 is the most recent year for which final data is available. The report finds that America's power is dirty – and also very old – and that these two qualities tend to go hand-in-hand. Our Issues in the NewsSome Good (And Green) News Out Of Springfield 5/30/2009Amid the turmoil in the General Assembly this week, environmentalists and consumer groups quietly earned a big victory on Thursday night, passing a sizeable energy efficiency reform package (SB 1918) through both chambers. FDA relied heavily on BPA lobby 5/17/2009As federal regulators hold fast to their claim that a chemical in baby bottles is safe, e-mails obtained by the Journal Sentinel show that they relied on chemical industry lobbyists to examine bisphenol A's risks, track legislation to ban it and even monitor press coverage. State looks to reverse pollutant reputation 4/24/2009Environmentalists warn that the state of Illinois contributes more than its share to the global warming issues. Illinois is the seventh largest source of global warming pollution in the country and combined with seven other Midwestern states, it emits more than 23 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas pollution – 5 percent of the world’s. |
