Clean Air News

ATLANTA—Global warming pollution in Georgia jumped 315 percent between 1960 and 2001, according to The Carbon Boom, a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Georgia. Increased coal emissions from power plants and oil emissions from transportation sources were responsible for 52 percent and 40 percent of this increase, respectively.

"When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging. To protect future generations from the effects of global warming, we need to stop this trend of increasing pollution," said Environment Georgia Campaign Coordinator Stephanie Powell. 

Existing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies could substantially reduce global warming pollution, but the federal government has so far rejected mandatory pollution limits.

Using data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environment Georgia’s new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel combustion nationally and by state between 1960 and 2001, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are available.  Major findings of the report include:

• Georgia emitted 38.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960; by 2001, the state’s emissions had grown to 158.2 million metric tons, an increase of 315 percent. Georgia ranks fourth nationwide for the largest overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the four decades.

• Nationwide, emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping from 2.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960 to almost 5.7 billion metric tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent.

• A dramatic growth in oil combustion in the transportation sector and coal combustion for electricity generation fueled the rapid increase in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 1960 and 2001. Increased coal and oil combustion each accounted for 40 percent of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions.

• In Georgia, increased coal combustion—primarily to generate electricity—accounted for 52 percent of the state's increase in carbon dioxide emissions from 1960 to 2001. Coal has the highest carbon content of any fossil fuel, meaning that burning coal for electricity produces more carbon per unit of energy than does burning oil or natural gas. Over the four decades, as demand for electricity boomed, Georgia added 13,414 megawatts of new coal-burning power plant capacity. Increased combustion of oil and natural gas contributed 40 percent and 8 percent, respectively, of the state's growth in emissions from 1960 to 2001.

The early effects of global warming are evident in Georgia and worldwide. According to NASA, 2005 was the warmest year ever recorded. Left unchecked, global warming threatens to cause more frequent and severe heat waves in Georgia, which will increase the number of people who suffer heat stress and stroke.

The U.S. could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants and cars more efficient and increase the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, noted Mary Carr, Research Associate with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. "These are win, win solutions because they would reduce our dependence on oil, reduce air pollution, protect pristine places from oil drilling and mining, create a new local economy for Georgia, and save consumers money," she said.

Oil companies—led by ExxonMobil—automakers, and most electric utilities continue to fight common sense solutions to global warming, Powell pointed out. For instance, ExxonMobil gave at least $15 million between 1998 and 2004 to groups working to confuse the public about the broad scientific consensus on the causes of and solutions to global warming.

Last week, Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) introduced the Safe Climate Act, which provides a long-term, science-based solution to global warming. The bill requires the U.S. to reduce its global warming pollution by 15 percent from today's levels by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050. To achieve these targets, the bill calls for improved energy efficiency and a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, while providing companies flexibility in meeting the pollution-reduction goals through a "cap-and-trade" program.

Rep. Waxman commented, "Environment Georgia's report shows state-by-state how the problem has been growing for decades. Now is the time to heed the scientists and start healing the climate. The Safe Climate Act will dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the levels needed to avoid dangerous global warming. We start now and increase improvements over time, as we replace dirty old energy sources with clean renewable energy and energy efficiency."

 "Our leaders must take decisive action to stop the worst effects of global warming.  We call on Representatives John Lewis and Cynthia McKinney to support the Safe Climate Act," concluded Powell.