Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

On July 23 all of the 178 nations, except the United States, meeting in Bonn, Germany, agreed to rules for cutting greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Kyoto Protocol goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by 2012. The Executive Committee of Maine Global Climate Change Inc. thanks you for your editorial of July 26, 2001 “Climate Help.” We agree with your statement that “… [the 178 nations] will turn to the largest single producer of carbon dioxide and wonder whether this nation will take its world responsibilities seriously. It can and should, and Congress can help.”

We agree that the question of the “science” is now settled, that we need to start the emission rollbacks, prepare to adapt to the changes and take advantage of some of the incentives. We need to work with other nations to reduce the risks from climate change as well as to benefit from the many, many economic opportunities. Not being involved means that our economy will be left behind.

During the 1990s the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions grew 13 percent. In 2000 they rose another 2.7 percent. With only 4 percent of the world’s population, the U.S. accounts for 25 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The mileage our vehicles get is the lowest in 20 years. We are using more and more coal to produce electricity – and coal has the highest carbon content of any fossil fuel. Remember, former President Bush signed and our U.S. Senate ratified the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change, in which we agreed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by the year 2000. This agreement has been in force since 1994, but voluntary targets did not work, leading the nations in1997to write the Kyoto Protocol, which sets mandatory goals.

It was designed as only the beginning step in a long process.

Other countries, including China, are already starting to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. On July 16 the Worldwatch Institute released its Vital Signs report, which includes energy data for 2000. This report showed that worldwide (all “worldwide” numbers include the United States) fossil fuel consumption declined by 0.2 percent. Coal consumption decreased 4.5 percent worldwide – China used 3.5 percent less coal in 2000 than in 1999. Wind power is the fastest-growing energy source, growing 30 percent in 2000. Even though it produces less than 1 percent of electricity worldwide, it accounts for 15 percent of Denmark’s electricity. Production of solar panels increased 43 percent. Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions fell for the third year in a row, by 0.6 percent. Worldwide in the 1990’s, greenhouse gas emissions rose 6 percent, much less than in the two prior decades.

Predictions of heat and storms are now becoming reality. On July 25 one-half of the United States was experiencing an official heat wave, causing record electric power usage much of it from coal and oil fired electric power generation since the droughts and lack of snow melt in the Northwest and Northeast have reduced hydroelectric power generation. The more fossil fuel used, the more greenhouse gas emissions, ozone alerts and hazy, smoggy days, which send people to the emergency rooms. On July 24, Maine experienced another “ozone alert” day, a New England power alert and our region broke the previous record for electrical usage because of the use of air conditioning due to the heat and pollution. Also, the “extreme precipitation events” (4 to 8 inches of rain within a 24-hour period) are occurring more and more worldwide.

Here are just a few examples from the United States: the 40 lives and $5 billion damage in the late May-June storms from Houston, Texas to Worcester, Mass.; this month’s thunderstorm events in southern West Virginia, Kansas City, Missouri, Cincinnati, Ohio and Madawaska, Maine – causing deaths as well as crop, railroad, road, home and business damage. One Pacific Island is going under water from sea level rise, forcing 11,000 residents to move. Formerly ice-bound villages in Alaska are going into the sea.

Temperatures in the Arctic have increased 7 degrees.

We can make greenhouse gas reductions using smart, beneficial policies. In November 2000 the U.S. Department of Energy’s Interlaboratory Working Group on Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Technologies produced their second “Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future” report. Their three conclusions are:

Smart public policies can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions but also air pollution, petroleum dependence and inefficiencies in energy production and use.

The overall economic benefits of these policies appear to be comparable to their overall costs.

The policy and technology opportunities identified are so abundant that they compete with each other to reduce carbon emissions.

Companies in Maine such as Guilford of Maine, Pratt and Whitney, Lemforder, Shaw’s supermarkets, Brunswick Naval Air Station and IP’s Bucksport mill are already reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and saving money. Maine churches and citizens are joining together to purchase electricity generated by renewable energy. Private educational institutions in Maine are adopting a more sustainable energy path. Augusta and Portland are part of the international Cities for Climate Protection. Maine state agencies and ordinary citizens are buying (and enjoying) the new hybrid cars that get great mileage. Many are buying low energy appliances and lighting.

Our congressional delegation has been working hard on actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All support higher vehicle fuel efficiency standards – the cheapest, cleanest, easiest, fastest way to increase our fuel “supply.” All are sponsoring or co-sponsoring bills to reduce multiple pollutants (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and mercury) from power plants. All support cost-effective energy efficiency, renewable energy and new technologies. Both senators are working to institute an Office of Climate Change to coordinate action. Please tell them of your support.

President Bush keeps saying he wants U.S. citizens’ lifestyles to be maintained. We do too. We want our health, homes and jobs to be safe from the extreme weather which is just one of the unpleasant outcomes of global climate change. We want to reduce our energy use and air pollution to improve our quality of life, save money and our health. We want to benefit from the economic development opportunities from our new technologies and processes. We want to be responsible global citizens.

Pamela W. Person is co-chairman of Maine Global Climate Change, a nonprofit, volunteer organization working since 1998 to educate policy-makers and the public about how to reduce the risks and benefit from the opportunities from climate change mitigation and adaptation.