http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/an-analysis-of-potential-heat-related-mortality-increases-in-u_s_-cities-under-a-business-as-usual-climate-change-scenario Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/an-analysis-of-potential-heat-related-mortality-increases-in-u_s_-cities-under-a-business-as-usual-climate-change-scenario Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:38:27 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-new-jersey39s-contribution-to-global-warming  New Jersey has begun http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-new-jersey39s-contribution-to-global-warming Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/greening-the-bottom-line http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/greening-the-bottom-line Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-marylands-contribution-to-global-warming  Global warming poses a serious threat to Maryland’s http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-marylands-contribution-to-global-warming Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions-that-work-cutting-edge-efforts-to-curb-global-warming-pollution Global warming is the defining challenge of our time. The http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions-that-work-cutting-edge-efforts-to-curb-global-warming-pollution Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:50:33 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/an-unfamiliar-state-local-impacts-of-global-warming-in-new-jersey  Global warming poses a serious threat to the future of New Jersey’s environment,economy, and the health and welfare of its citizens.Global http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/an-unfamiliar-state-local-impacts-of-global-warming-in-new-jersey Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/an-unfamiliar-state-how-global-warming-could-change-natural-wisconsin   Wisconsin residents have a strong http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/an-unfamiliar-state-how-global-warming-could-change-natural-wisconsin Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/putting-the-brakes-on-global-warming-how-the-clean-cars-program-will-reduce-global-warming-pollution-in-north-carolina North Carolina http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/putting-the-brakes-on-global-warming-how-the-clean-cars-program-will-reduce-global-warming-pollution-in-north-carolina Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:49:15 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-new-mexicos-contribution-to-global-warming As the new home of NMPIRG's environmental work, http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-new-mexicos-contribution-to-global-warming Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-arizonas-contribution-to-global-warming As the new home of Arizona PIRG's environmental work, http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-arizonas-contribution-to-global-warming Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/dollars-and-sense-consumer-savings-resulting-from-adoption-of-the-clean-car-program With summer driving season and the resulting http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/dollars-and-sense-consumer-savings-resulting-from-adoption-of-the-clean-car-program Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:08:38 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/falling-behind-new-england-must-act-now-to-reduce-global-warming-pollution Global http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/falling-behind-new-england-must-act-now-to-reduce-global-warming-pollution Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:41:15 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/when-it-rains-it-pours-global-warming-and-the-rising-frequency-of-extreme-precipitation-in-the-united-states Scientists expect that global warming will cause a variety of changes to precipitation patterns in the United States. Many areas will receive increased amounts of rain and snow over the course of a year; some areas will receive less. But scientists expect that, all across the country, the rainstorms and snowstorms that do occur will be more intense – increasing the risk of flooding and other impacts. In this report, we evaluate trends in the frequency of storms with extreme levels of rainfall or snowfall across the contiguous United States over the last 60 years. We analyze daily precipitation records spanning from 1948 through 2006 at more than 3,000 weather stations in 48 states. We then examine patterns in the timing of heavy precipitation relative to the local climate at each weather station. We find that storms with extreme amounts of rain or snowfall are happening more often across most of America, consistent with the predicted impact of global warming.Scientists expect global warming to increase the frequency of heavy precipitation.As the earth warms, temperate regions of North America will face a growing risk of storms with extreme levels of rain or snowfall.Global warming increases the intensity of precipitation in two key ways. First, by increasing the temperature of the land and the oceans, global warming causes water to evaporate faster. Second, by increasing air temperature, global warming enables the atmosphere to hold more water vapor. These factors combine to make clouds richer with moisture, making heavy downpours or snowstorms more likely.The consequences of increasingly intense rainstorms may includeflooding, crop damage, pollution of waterways with runoff, erosion, and other environmental and economic damage. During the 20th century, floods caused more property damage and loss of life than any other natural disaster in the United States.An increase in the number of downpours does not necessarily mean more water will be available.Scientists expect that extreme downpours will punctuate longer periods of relative dryness, increasing the risk of drought. In the Southwest, for example, total annual precipitation is projected to decline – amplifying the impact of periods of little rainfall between heavy storms.Even in the rest of the country, where total annual precipitation is expected to increase, more of that precipitation will fall in heavy rainstorms or snowstorms, paradoxically increasing the potential for drought. As temperatures rise, precipitation will become increasingly likely to fall as rain rather than snow, increasing runoff and likely reducing water supplies in areas dependent on snowpack. Weather records show that storms with extreme precipitation have become more frequent over the last 60 years.Consistent with the predicted impacts of global warming, we found that storms with extreme precipitation have increased in frequency by 24 percent across the continental United States since 1948. (According to a statistical analysis of the data, with 95 percent confidence, the increase has been between 22 and 26 percent.)New England and the Mid-Atlantic experienced the largest increase in extreme precipitation frequency.New England and the Mid-Atlantic saw storms with extreme precipitation levels increase in frequency by 61 percent and 42 percent, respectively.At the state level, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York and Louisiana all saw extreme precipitation events increase in frequency by more than 50 percent.In the contiguous United States, 40 states experienced a statistically significant trend toward increasingly frequent storms with extreme precipitation. Only one state (Oregon) showed a statistically significant decline in frequency of storms with extreme precipitation. (See Figure ES-1.) See the report appendices on page 35 for a full list of results by region, state and metropolitan area. Climate divisions covering more than half of the land area of the United States show a statistically significant trend toward more frequent storms with extreme precipitation. We also looked at the trend in frequency precipitation within climate divisions, which are boundaries used by climatologists since the 1950s to aggregate weather observations. Figure ES-2 presents these trends, showing that the largest increases occurred across New England, New York, much of the Great Lakes area, the upper Midwest, plus Louisiana, New Mexico, northern Washington and southern California. Climate regions covering more than half of the surface area of the contiguous United States show a statistically significant increase in the frequency of storms with extreme precipitation levels. In contrast, the data show statistically significant decreases in extreme precipitation frequency for climate regions covering only 4 percent of the area of the United States. (Oregon, the northwestern corner of North Dakota, central Arkansas, the southern tip of Lake Michigan, and northern Florida.) These findings are consistent with previous studies of extreme precipitation patterns, both in the United States and across the globe. For example:Scientists have observed warmer weather, higher atmospheric moisture content, increased formation of storm clouds, and an increase in thunderstorm activity over the contiguous United States in recent decades. In 1999, researchers at the Illinois State Water Survey and the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) found that storms with extreme precipitation became more frequent by about 3 percent per decade from 1931 to 1996. Our findings are consistent with this result. In 2004, scientists at NCDC concluded that most of the observed increase in storms with heavy and very heavy precipitation levels since the early 1900s had occurred in the last three decades. In other words, they found that the change in extreme precipitation frequency is unusual and relatively recent. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/when-it-rains-it-pours-global-warming-and-the-rising-frequency-of-extreme-precipitation-in-the-united-states Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:35:11 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/cleaner-cheaper-smarter-the-case-for-auctioning-pollution-allowances-in-a-global-warming-cap-and-trade-program Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Global warming poses a profound threat to America’s http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/cleaner-cheaper-smarter-the-case-for-auctioning-pollution-allowances-in-a-global-warming-cap-and-trade-program Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/feeling-the-heat-global-warming-and-rising-temperatures-in-the-united-states2 Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. In 2006, Americans experienced a summer heat wave http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/feeling-the-heat-global-warming-and-rising-temperatures-in-the-united-states2 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-clean-cars-program-how-states-are-driving-cuts-in-global-warming-pollution Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Rising http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-clean-cars-program-how-states-are-driving-cuts-in-global-warming-pollution Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-carbon-boom-state-and-national-trends-in-carbon-dioxide-emissions-since-1990 Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. The early effects of global warming are already evident across the United States and worldwide. The past nine years have all been among the 25 warmest for the contiguous United States, a streak unprecedented in the historical record. If emissions are left unchecked, temperatures will continue to rise, and the effects of global warming will become more severe. This report examines trends in U.S. global warming pollution nationally and by state and concludes that the failure to limit emissions nationwide has allowed global warming pollution to grow out of control. In February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body charged with assessing the scientific record on global warming, found that the evidence of global warming is “unequivocal” and concluded, with more than 90 percent certainty, that human activities are responsible for most of the observed rise in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century. If current trends in emissions continue, the IPCC projects that temperatures will increase anywhere from an additional 1.1° to 6.4°C (2° to 11.5°F). The consequences of this increase in global temperatures will vary from place to place but will include sea level rise, heat waves, drought, increasingly intense tropical storms, loss of plant and animal species, decreased crop yields, decreased water availability, and the spread of infectious diseases. The United States is the largest worldwide contributor to global warming, releasing almost a quarter of the world’s carbon dioxide, the primary global warming pollutant. Power plants, cars, and light trucks are the largest U.S. sources of carbon dioxide. Existing technology could substantially reduce global warming pollution by making power plants and factories more efficient, making cars go farther on a gallon of gasoline, and shifting the country to clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. Unfortunately, the U.S. government so far has rejected mandatory limits on global warming pollution, allowing carbon dioxide emissions to rise unabated. Using the most recent state fossil fuel consumption data from the Department of Energy, this report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions nationally and by state for the 15 years spanning 1990 to 2004. Our major findings include the following: Carbon dioxide pollution is on the rise. • Carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuel consumption is on the rise in the United States, increasing by 18 percent between 1990 and 2004. • Electric power plants and the transportation sector—particularly cars and light trucks—drove the increase in emissions nationwide. Between 1990 and 2004, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector jumped by 28 percent and from the transportation sector by almost a quarter (23 percent). • Carbon dioxide emissions increased the most in the Southeast, Great Lakes/Midwest, and Gulf South regions over the 15 year period. The states experiencing the largest absolute increases in carbon dioxide emissions between 1990 and 2004 are Texas, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Georgia. The electric power sector was the primary factor driving the increase in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 1990 and 2004. • The electric power sector accounted for more than half (55 percent) of the U.S. emissions increase. Rising electricity demand from residential, commercial and industrial consumers spurred this rapid increase in carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector. • Coal-fired power plants accounted for most of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector.Between 1990 and 2004, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants increased by a quarter, accounting for three-fourths of the emissions increase in the electric power sector and 42 percent of the nation’s overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions. • The states that experienced the largest absolute increases in carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants between 1990 and 2004 are Illinois, Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Indiana. • Between 1990 and 2004, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas consumption in the electric power sector increased by more than two thirds (almost 70 percent), accounting for 13 percent of the nation’s overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions. • The states that experienced the largest absolute increases in carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas-fired power plants between 1990 and 2004 are Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, and Nevada. The transportation sector also played a major role in driving up U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 1990 and 2004. • The transportation sector accounted for 40 percent of the nation’s overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions during this time period. • Cars and light trucks were responsible for most of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector. Between 1990 and 2004, carbon dioxide emissions from motor gasoline consumption increased by almost a quarter (22 percent), accounting for more than half of the emissions increase in the transportation sector. • The states with the largest absolute increases in carbon dioxide emissions from motor gasoline consumption between 1990 and 2004 include Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, and Arizona. The longer we wait to reduce global warming pollution, the harder the task will be in the future. Many U.S. states have started taking important steps to cut global warming pollution within their borders, but the global warming problem also demands a national solution. Key components of an action plan to cut global warming pollution include: • Establishing mandatory, science-based limits on global warming pollution that reduce emissions from today’s levels by the end of the decade, by at least 15-20 percent by 2020, and by at least 80 percent by 2050. • Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels by making our homes and businesses more energy efficient, making our cars and SUVs go farther on a gallon of gasoline, and generating more electricity from renewable energy sources. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-carbon-boom-state-and-national-trends-in-carbon-dioxide-emissions-since-1990 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/feeling-the-heat-global-warming-and-rising-temperatures-in-the-united-states Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. In the summer of 2006, Americans from coast to coast experienced a http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/feeling-the-heat-global-warming-and-rising-temperatures-in-the-united-states Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/rising-to-the-challenge-six-steps-to-cut-global-warming-pollution-in-the-united-states Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Extensive scientific evidence demonstrates http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/rising-to-the-challenge-six-steps-to-cut-global-warming-pollution-in-the-united-states Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-carbon-boom-national-and-state-trends-in-carbon-dioxide-emissions-since-1960 Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. The early effects of global warming are http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-carbon-boom-national-and-state-trends-in-carbon-dioxide-emissions-since-1960 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-climate-and-economy-insurance-act-an-environmental-critique Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. In June 2005, Senator Jeff Bingaman of http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/the-climate-and-economy-insurance-act-an-environmental-critique Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/10-state-clean-car-standards-to-cut-64-million-metric-tons-of-global-warming-emissions-per-year-by-2020 Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Shrinking glaciers, rising global temperatures, http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/10-state-clean-car-standards-to-cut-64-million-metric-tons-of-global-warming-emissions-per-year-by-2020 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/less-snow-less-water-climate-disruption-in-the-west Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. In http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/less-snow-less-water-climate-disruption-in-the-west Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/all-words-no-action-fords-corporate-citizenship-record-on-global-warming-and-fuel-economy Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. In 2000, Ford CEO and chairman, http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/all-words-no-action-fords-corporate-citizenship-record-on-global-warming-and-fuel-economy Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/dollars-and-sense-the-economic-impacts-of-adopting-a-clean-cars-program-in-new-mexico Emissions from cars and light trucks are a major source of air pollution and global warming pollution in New Mexico. Adopting the Clean Cars Program will reduce this pollution and provide a net economic benefit to the state. The consensus view of climate scientists holds that global warming is real, that it is being caused by human-made emissions and that we need to act quickly and boldly if we’re to avoid the worst effects of a warming planet. Global warming, left unchecked, could substantially impact the frequency of heat waves, increase the risk of wildfires, lead to species extinction, cause sea levels to rise and decrease mountain snow packs and available water supplies, already severely limited in the parched Southwest. Nationally, one million more drivers are on today’s roads than there were just two years ago. America’s cars and trucks already produce more than 360 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year; these emissions are expected to rise another 50 percent by 2015. In New Mexico, the transportation sector is the second largest source of carbon dioxide pollution, making up nearly one-quarter of the state’s emissions in 2000. Air pollution like smog, soot and cancer-causing air toxics from our cars, trucks and SUVs worsen asthma and lung disease and have been linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and cancer. Nationally, our vehicles are responsible for more than 50 percent of all volatile organic compound and nitrogen oxide emissions—precursors to smog. Cleaner cars can help to reduce the state’s global warming and air pollution emissions. First, the Clean Cars Program sets strict standards for traditional air pollutants, cutting volatile organic compound and nitrogen oxide emissions by 5 percent and 11 percent respectively. Second, the program would reduce global warming such by 2016, new cars would emit 34 percent less global warming gases, while light-duty trucks would produce 25 percent less. Third, the program helps to drive further technological development by requiring automakers to invest in researching and producing advanced-technology vehicles. New Mexico is currently considering joining twelve states in adopting the Clean Cars Program’s vehicle emission standards and bringing these high performance cars to our roads. Automakers, dealerships and their trade associations often suggest that the costs of the program to automakers and consumers would be too steep. However, cleaner vehicles will benefit consumers and the state’s economy in several ways. Cleaner cars are a good deal for New Mexico’s drivers. Cleaner cars that incorporate advanced-technology components have reduced operating costs, saving drivers money at the pump. Cleaner cars begin to pay for themselves immediately. - As a result of anticipated gasoline savings, New Mexico consumers could save $623 million annually under the Clean Cars Program. - Assuming fuel costs of $3 per gallon, consumers will experience a net savings of $245 to $320 per year during the life of a 5 year loan and $490 and $560 per year when the loan is paid off. - More than 25 models of clean vehicles sold in California and other clean car states are not generally available in New Mexico. Adopting the Clean Cars Program would mean that New Mexicans get better choices and have more access to cleaner, conventional cars and advanced-technology vehicles. Manufacturers have a history of overestimating the price of producing cleaner vehicles to comply with stronger emission standards. Their claims about consumer impacts and declining sales have not played out. - Auto industry costs estimates for the 1970s catalytic converter requirements were 1.6 to 3.2 times higher than the actual cost. In the 1990s, Sierra Research, who provided cost analyses for the auto industry, estimated costs that were 4 to 6 times higher than the actual cost of compliance for the original LEV program. - After automakers and car dealerships sued the state of Vermont citing that its Clean Cars global warming standards would cost too much, weren’t feasible and would limit production, Vermont District Court Judge Sessions said that automakers have “failed to carry their burden to demonstrate that the regulation is not technologically feasible or economically practicable… given the flawed assumptions and overly conservative selection of technologies” utilized. Instead, the Court found that “compliance is possible in the time period provided at a relatively reasonable cost.” Judge Sessions also concluded that the auto industry can make any vehicle reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The Court did “not find convincing the claims that consumers will be deprived of their choice of vehicles, or that manufacturers will be forced to restrict or abandon their product lines.” Because drivers will be spending less at the pump—money that largely leaves the local economy and is sent out of state or overseas—the state’s economy will benefit as people have more money to spend on other commodities and in their local stores. - The New Mexico Climate Change Advisory Group found that the program would actually save money for the state. Each ton of carbon dioxide equivalent reduced would save the state $117, making the Clean Cars Program the most cost effective of the 69 policy options that the state analyzed to reduce global warming emissions. - The California Air Resources Board (CARB) expects that the money saved through reduced operating costs—money that usually flows out of the local economy—will raise people’s personal income and help to energize the local economy through increased spending on other goods and services. These expenditures would create jobs and help to create new businesses. - Because the program would also reduce the air pollution that affects rates of asthma, cancer and heart disease, a reduction in state medical costs could also be expected. Health care costs from ozone, smog and air toxics put a burden on the state health care system. Reducing emissions that trigger asthma attacks and increase cancer will inevitably lead to fewer sick days and reduced health care costs for business and government. The economic, social and environmental consequences of inaction, or choosing to ignore the threat of global warming, will likely be severe, and outweigh any potential unintended consequences of emission reduction efforts. - In a time of scientific certainty about the seriousness of global warming and increasingly more frequent debate around policy solutions to global warming that would put a price on carbon, businesses that are dependent on fossil fuels or are heavy emitters find themselves in a riskier and riskier business climate. - The likely impacts of global warming in New Mexico could significantly impact New Mexico’s economy. For example, warmer winter temperatures would hurt ski resorts and other snow sport industries, which provided a $270 million financial benefit to the state in 2004. - Acting immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—from the transportation sector and economy-wide—would help us to avoid the costs of inaction. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/dollars-and-sense-the-economic-impacts-of-adopting-a-clean-cars-program-in-new-mexico Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:40:47 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-illinois-contribution-to-global-warming http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-illinois-contribution-to-global-warming Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-wisconsins-contribution-to-global-warming Global warming poses a serious threat to Wisconsin’s future http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/a-blueprint-for-action-policy-options-to-reduce-wisconsins-contribution-to-global-warming Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:45:56 -0600