Global warming solutions

In recent months, we applauded two court decisions (a district court decision in Vermont in September and a U.S. Supreme Court decision in April) that put pressure on the EPA to allow states to adopt so-called Clean Car programs. We’ve helped convince 12 states to adopt the program, which, pending EPA approval, would require more hybrids and other cleaner cars to be on the roads.

In other global warming news, we published “Cleaner, Cheaper, Smarter,” an October report making the case for requiring power plant owners and other companies to pay for continued carbon pollution. Under so-called “cap-and-trade” programs in place in some states and under consideration in Congress, government would issue carbon emission permits. Requiring these companies to pay for these permits would create disincentives to pollute, and funds that could be used to invest in clean energy.