September 27, 2006—A new report by the Environment California Research & Policy Center, “Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States ,” shows how the rest of the country can meet and even exceed pollution reduction goals similar to the strong standards being enacted in California.
California currently has a goal of reducing global warming pollution 25 percent (or to 1990 levels) by 2020.
The report details six challenging but feasible steps to improve US energy efficiency and use more renewable energy. Coupled with strong mandatory limits on global warming emissions, these strategies would reportedly reduce US global warming emissions by 19 percent below 2004 levels by 2020 (19 percent reductions nationwide would reach 1990 levels).
The six steps outlined in the report are:
- Stabilize vehicle travel.
- Increase vehicle fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon and set fuel economy standards for large trucks.
- Replace 10% of vehicle fuel with biofuels or other clean alternatives.
- Reduce energy consumption in homes, business, and industry by 10% from current levels.
- Obtain 20% of our electricity from new renewable energy sources.
- Hold emissions from other sources to current levels.
For the full report, visit Environment California.
