Atlanta, Georgia—Global
warming pollution in Georgia
increased by 26% between 1990 and 2004, according to The Carbon Boom, a new analysis of state fossil fuel consumption
data released today by Environment Georgia.
This is the first time that 2004 state-by-state data on carbon dioxide
emissions have been released.
“Given
the risks from global warming, it’s incredibly irresponsible for Georgia’s
global warming pollution to increase.
It’s like the doctor telling you that you need to go on a serious diet,
but instead you go straight for Ben & Jerry’s,” said Environment Georgia
Advocate Jennette Gayer.
Environment
Georgia’s
report comes less than a week after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, a U.N. body charged with assessing the scientific record on global
warming, released its consensus report on the current and projected impacts of
global warming. The report warned of increasing droughts, floods,
heat waves, water stress, forest fires, and coastal flooding in the United
States but
concluded that “many impacts can be avoided, reduced, or delayed” by
quickly and significantly reducing global warming pollution.
“Global
warming pollution is skyrocketing in Georgia just as scientists are
sounding alarms that we must rapidly reduce pollution to protect future
generations. This report is a wake-up
call to cap pollution levels now before it is too late,” said Gayer.
Using
data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy, Environment Georgia’s new
report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption
between 1990 and 2004, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are
available.
Major
findings of the report include:
- Georgia’s carbon dioxide emissions
from fossil fuel consumption grew from 138.0 million metric tons to 173.7
million metric tons between 1990 and 2004, an increase of 26%. Georgia ranked 5th nationwide
for the largest absolute increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the 15
year period.
- Nationwide, emissions of
carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased by 18% between 1990
and 2004. Coal-fired power plants
and the transportation sector—especially cars and SUVs—drove this
emissions increase.
- In Georgia, carbon dioxide
emissions from burning gasoline (primarily in cars and SUVs) increased by 44%
between 1990 and 2004, rising from 30.0 million metric tons to 43.1
million metric tons. Between 1990
and 2004, vehicle miles traveled in Georgia increased by 60%,
while cars and SUVs became less efficient.
Georgia
ranked 4th nationwide for the largest absolute increase in carbon dioxide
emissions from motor gasoline consumption over the 15 year period.
“The good
news is that we have the technology at our fingertips to cut global warming
pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Gayer.
The United States
could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing
technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes, and cars more efficient
and increasing the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind and
solar power.
The Safe
Climate Act (H.R. 1590), introduced by Representative Henry Waxman (CA) in the
House, and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309), introduced by
Senators Bernie Sanders (VT) and Barbara Boxer (CA) in the Senate, would limit
global warming pollution to levels that current science says are needed to
prevent the worst effects of global warming.
The bills would freeze U.S.
global warming emissions in 2010 and reduce emissions by about 15% by 2020 and
by 80% by 2050.
“To
protect future generations, our leaders must take decisive action to cut global
warming pollution. Environment Georgia
calls on members of the Georgia Delegation to co-sponsor the only bills that do
what scientists say we need to do—the Safe Climate Act and the Global Warming
Pollution Reduction Act,” concluded Gayer.
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