Global Warming News

As the world’s most prominent climate scientists prepare to release a new assessment of the threat of global warming this week, Environment Illinois was joined by state faith leaders, environmental leaders and legislative leaders at events in Chicago and Waukegan today to release a new report. A Blueprint for Action: Policy Options to Reduce Illinois’s Contribution to Global Warming details 13 policy strategies, which, combined, can cut Illinois’s global warming emissions by as much as 25% by 2025. 

“The threat of global warming is now impossible to deny,” said Rebecca Stanfield, State Director of Environment Illinois.  “This blueprint demonstrates that we have the policy tools today in Illinois to meet the challenge of global warming beginning immediately,” she continued. 

Over the past year, alarming new evidence of global warming and its consequences has emerged.  Notably, a report released on October 30, by Nicholas Stern, the economist and former head of the World Bank, warned that unless we act to stop global warming, by the middle of this century, as many as 200 million people could find their home cities inundated by rising sea levels, 15-40% of all species could face extinction and as many as one-sixth of the world’s population could be without water.  In increasing numbers, religious leaders, business leaders, mayors, governors and others have added their voices to the call for action on this issue.

“Faced with the urgent and compelling scientific evidence of the effects of global warming, and warnings and signs of the catastrophe which current CO2 emissions will imminently produce, religious people are attempting to speak out and to act,” said Jonathan Dean, Associate Pastor of the Downers Grove United Methodist Church. “People of all faiths therefore urge political, business and community leaders to action on this issue, one which more than any other will affect the life of present and future generations.”

Most of the rise in global temperatures in the last 50 years has been linked to billions of tons of global warming pollution, predominantly carbon dioxide from burning of coal, oil and other fossil fuels, emitted into the air each year.  These gases accumulate in the atmosphere and trap heat from the sun.  Scientists estimate that, in order to prevent the worst impacts of global warming, we must stabilize the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere at 450 parts per million or less.  This will take a worldwide emission reduction on the order of 80% by the middle of this century. 

“Every level of government needs to take action to combat global warming today,” said Representative Elaine Nekritz of Des Plaines.  “Any further delay will only make the solution more difficult.”

The Illinois Global Warming Blueprint offers 13 strategies to reduce the amount of global warming pollution emitted by Illinois sources.  They include investing aggressively in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, adopting clean car standards, adopting stronger energy codes for buildings and appliances, and expanding transit and commuting options to reduce our reliance on cars for transportation.  Illinois must also directly limit the carbon dioxide emitted by the fleet of coal-burning power plants in state, and reject the onslaught of proposed major new conventional coal plants that would, if built, dramatically increase emissions in state.

In the absence of a federal policy, states and cities are establishing their own plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  For example, eight northeastern states have set emission caps for their electric power industry to reduce by 10% by 2019. California has passed legislation to return emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.  Eleven states have adopted automobile standards for global warming pollution. Oregon, New Mexico, and Arizona have state CO2 emission targets and are working to develop plans to meet those targets.

In Illinois, Governor Blagojevich issued Executive Order 06-11 last October to establish the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group.  The group will begin meeting in February to advise the Governor as he develops his comprehensive climate change action plan. “We applaud the Governor for facing global warming head on, and we hope that the policy strategies in our blueprint can help to inform his plan,” said Stanfield. 

On Friday, February 2, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global body charged with assessing the scientific record on global warming, is expected to issue the first volume of its Fourth Assessment Report on global warming.  Prepared and reviewed by more than 2,500 experts, this consensus report will provide a comprehensive assessment of the peer-reviewed research on global warming published prior to 2006.

“This week will bring another wave of alarming news about global warming.  However, our message is a positive one:  While daunting, the worst consequences of global warming can be prevented if we work together to adopt common sense, cost-effective solutions today,” concluded Stanfield.

Federal legislation titled The Safe Climate Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last year and would limit emissions to the levels scientists say is necessary to avert the worst impacts of global warming.  To achieve these emission reductions, the bill requires a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, improved energy efficiency, and clean cars. 

“One hundred and sixteen members of Congress co-sponsored this critical piece of legislation in the 109th Congress.  We urge U.S. Representative Mark Kirk to cosponsor this long-term, science-based solution to global warming when it is reintroduced in the new Congress,” said Stanfield.