As the 110th congress begins to debate global warming policy, our list of ten startling global warming facts underscores what's at stake and why 2008 must be a year for effective national action.
1 Rank of 2006 as hottest year on record in the continental United States.
1 Rank of America as top global warming polluter in the world.
20% Percent increase of America's carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels since 1990.
15% Percent increase of America's carbon dioxide emissions forecasted by 2020 if we do not cap pollution.
80% Percent decrease in U.S. global warming pollution required by 2050 to prevent the worst consequences of global warming.
78 Number of days by which the U.S. fire season has increased over the past 20 years-tied closely to increase temperatures and earlier snowmelt.
200 million Number of people around the world who could be displaced by more intense droughts, sealevel rise and flooding by 2080.
358 Number of U.S. mayors(representing 55 million Americans) who have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement pledging to meet or beat Kyoto goals in their communities.
0 Number of federal bills passed to cap America's global warming pollution.
1 Number of times President Bush has mentioned"climate change" or "global warmiing" in his precious six State of the Union speeches.
Q: What causes Global Warming?
A: Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to warm up. Coal-burning power plants are the largest U.S. source of carbon dioxide pollution--they produce 2.5 billion tons every year. Automobiles, the second largest source, create nearly 1.5 billion tons of C02 annually.
Q: What can i do to help fight global warming?
A: There are many simple steps you can take right now to cut global warming pollution. Make conserving energy a part of your daily routine. Each time you choose a compact flourecent light bulb over an incandescent bulb, for example, you'll lower your energy bill and keep nearly 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb's lifetime. By opting for a refrigerator with the Energy Star label--indicating it uses at least 15% less energy than the federal requirement--over a less energy-efficient model, you can reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly a ton in total.
Q: Are warmer temperatures causing bad things to happen?
A: Global warming is already causing the damage in many parts of the U.S. In 2002, Colorado,Arizona and Oregon endured their worst wildfire seasons ever. The same year, drought created severe dust storms in Montana, Colorado, and Kansas, and floods caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Texas, Montana and North Dakota. Since the early 1950s, snow accumulation has declined 60% and winter seasons have shortened in some areas of the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington.
Q: What country is the largest source of global warming pollution?
A: The U.S. Though americans make up just 4% of the world's population, we produce 25% of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning--by far the largest share of any country. In fact, the U.S. emits more carbon dioxide than China, India and Japan, combined. Clearly America ought to take a leadership role in solving the problem. And as the world's top developer of new technologies, we are all positioned to do so--we already have the know-how.
Q: How can we cut global warming pollution?
A: It's simple: By reducing pollution from vehicles and power plants. Right away, we should put existing technologies for building cleaner cars and more modern electricity generators into widespread use. We can increase our reliance on renewable energy sources such as wind, sun, and geothermal. And we can manufacture more efficient appliances and conserve energy.
