Planet Action - Waxman Safe Climate Act on Global Warming

Support Meaningful Energy Legislation

The Sierra Club suggests that you tell your member of Congress about the Waxman Safe Climate Act

Information from the congressman's site is listed below.

Summary of the Bill
The Safe Climate Act of 2007 (H.R. 1590) sets targets and requires the actions that will be necessary to avoid dangerous, irreversible warming of our planet.

Science tells us that we face a grave risk of irreversible and devastating global warming if global temperatures increase by more than 3.6°F.

The bill sets greenhouse gas emissions targets that aim to keep temperatures below the danger point. The level of emissions is frozen in 2010 and then gradually reduced each year through 2050.

The bill achieves these targets through a flexible economy-wide cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions, along with measures to advance technology and reduce emissions through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and cleaner cars.

Targets
The Safe Climate Act freezes U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, at the 2009 levels. Beginning in 2011, it cuts emissions by roughly 2% per year, reaching 1990 emissions levels by 2020. After 2020, it cuts emissions by roughly 5% per year. By 2050, emissions will be 80% lower than in 1990. These goals are comparable to emissions reduction goals adopted by many states and called for by leading American companies, small businesses, religious organizations, environmental advocates, and others.

Chart: Projected Global Warming Emissions Under Business-as-Usual vs. Emissions Targets of the Safe Climate Act.

Actions
The Safe Climate Act is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The Safe Climate Act directs EPA to issue regulations sufficient to achieve the emissions targets through the combination of a cap-and-trade program and other measures.

The bill directs EPA to set a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the largest polluters and allow the polluters to meet the cap by buying and selling emissions allowances.

Allowances are distributed according to a plan developed by the President, with an opportunity for Congress to ratify or modify the plan.

Proceeds from auctioning allowances are deposited in the “Climate Reinvestment Fund.”

Revenues in the fund are dedicated to maximizing the public benefit and promoting economic growth, including supporting technology research and development, compensating consumers for any energy cost increases, providing transition assistance for affected workers and regions, and protecting against harm from climate change, such as safeguarding water supplies, protecting against hurricanes, and mitigating harm to fish and wildlife habitat.

The bill directs EPA to set standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles that are at least as stringent as the current California standards. EPA must tighten these standards in 2014 and periodically thereafter.

The bill directs the Department of Energy to establish national standards requiring an increasing proportion of electricity to be generated from renewable energy sources, reaching 20% of retail electricity sold in 2020.

The bill directs the Department of Energy to establish national standards requiring utilities to obtain, each year, 1% of their energy supplies through energy efficiency improvements at customer facilities. These savings would accumulate each year through 2020.

National Academies Review
The bill directs the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council to review, every five years, our progress toward avoiding dangerous climate change. If the National Academies find that dangerous global warming is likely, they must identify the reductions needed and recommend additional national and international actions to achieve the reductions.






The Sierra Club offers an online form, Here is the content from that form

Please Co-sponsor the Waxman Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590)

Dear [Decision Maker],

We have the opportunity to solve one of the greatest challenges facing our country the threat of global warming. As the world's largest global warming polluter, the United States not only has an opportunity, it also has a responsibility to act. Putting smart energy solutions to work to solve global warming will not only avert this crisis - it will also create new economic opportunities and hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

The Waxman (D-CA) Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590) would reduce global warming emissions 2 percent per year, reaching an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050. I urge you to sponsor this important legislation.

The science is clear. We must act now to reduce the heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. By investing in clean, renewable energy sources, fuel-efficient transportation, and energy efficient technology, we can reduce our emissions 2 percent per year through 2050 as called for by leading scientists. States and local governments are already moving forward. It is time for Congress to act.

Planet Action - Save the Polar Bears

Global warming poses a serious threat to polar bears and other arctic animals.

The Sierra Club offers an 0nline form that you fill out so you can help save the polar bears.

Here is the text of the letter:

Help Save the Polar Bear

Dear [Decision Maker],

The polar bear is one of nature's most beautiful creations. But now global warming poses a serious threat to these and other arctic animals.

The alarming loss of ice due to global warming in the Arctic Ocean harms bears by forcing them to swim long distances to hunt. Increasingly polar bears are found drowned, starving, or underweight. Scientists make the dire prediction that we could lose this stately and unique animal as soon as the end of this century unless we put the brakes on global warming pollution and stabilize sea ice decline.

We support all efforts to protect the polar bear. While listing the polar bear as a threatened species acknowledges for the first time that global warming poses a threat to its survival, unfortunately the Endangered Species Act simply can't do enough to save it.

As a nation, we must decrease our reliance on the dirty energy sources that cause global warming. Otherwise, the polar ice caps will continue to melt away. Some analysts believe the arctic icecap could totally disappear by the year 2050, which will be a catastrophe for polar bears and many other animals, including humans.

We urge you to act immediately to save the polar bear by designating it as a threatened species, putting in place real measures to protect the bear and aid its recovery, and by using smart energy solutions to stop global warming.

Environmental Organizations Surfrider Foundation

I am a member of the Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education.
P.O. Box 6010
San Clemente , CA 92674-6010 USA
Phone: (949) 492-8170
Fax: (949) 492-8142

Clean water, healthy beaches, beach access and special places. These are our core areas of the Surfrider Foundation.

Clean Water
Our initiative to protect and restore coastal water quality from the ridges, through our watersheds and out to the nearshore ocean where we surf, swim and recreate.

Beach Access
Our initiative to promote the right of low-impact, free and open access to the world's waves and beaches for all people.

Beach Preservation
Our initiative to protect and preserve healthy beaches that are important coastal ecosystems and recreational areas.

Protecting Special Places
Our initiative to proactively conserve, protect, and restore special coastal and ocean places.

Volunteer Community Service Projects From The EPA

Here are high school level projects that you can do as community service.

Do you want to apply what you've learned about the environment to real-life situations and experiences? Here you'll find information about environmental community service projects, volunteer opportunities, and other activities where you can get involved in protecting the environment and conserving our natural resources.

Adopt Your Watershed
Learn about what groups in your area are doing to protect watersheds, and find out how you can help.

Backyard Conservation
The Natural Resources Conservation Service shows you how conservation practices used on agricultural land across the country can be adapted for the land around your home. Tip sheets describe how to conserve and improve natural resources to help increase food and shelter for birds and other wildlife, control soil erosion, reduce sediment in waterways, conserve water and improve water quality, inspire a stewardship ethic, and beautify the landscape.

Frogwatch
This website explains the role of amphibians in our ecosystem and how they are affected by our changing world. It provides information about volunteering and educational opportunities.

Give Water a Hand
A national watershed education program designed to involve young people in local environmental service projects. Also available in Spanish.

Global Water Sampling Project
Collaborative project that allows the participant to compare water quality of local water streams, lakes, etc. with other fresh water sources around the world.

Chesapeake Bay Program - How to Get Involved
The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership that directs and conducts the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. Learn about the many things that you can do to help in the efforts to protect and restore the Bay for generations to come.

Global Water Sampling Project
Collaborative project that allows the participant to compare water quality of local water streams, lakes, etc. with other fresh water sources around the world.

GLOBE: Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment
This site is a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment.

Great Lakes Ecopages
This site provides information on the biodiversity of the Great Lakes and the partnerships and habitat restoration techniques being implemented to conserve Great Lakes biodiversity.

Journey North
A global study of wildlife migration. Students in North America track the journeys of a dozen migratory species and share their own field observations with classrooms across the Hemisphere.

Linking Girls to the Land
This partnership between the Girl Scouts of America, US EPA and other Federal Agencies promotes outdoor education, volunteering and conservation education. It provides opportunities for 2.8 million girls nationwide.

National Apprentice Ecologist Awards
Programs to involve youth in environmental service projects.

Service-Learning: Education Beyond the Classroom
Need ideas for classroom or after-school environmental activities and projects? This on-line booklet highlights environmental projects done by students throughout the country.

Volunteer for Change (PDF, 24pp, 567K About PDF )
This guide to environmental community service features the ABCs of volunteering plus projects on reuse, recycling, composting, and household hazardous waste. (EPA530-K-01-002)

World Water Monitoring Day
World Water Monitoring Day helps watershed leaders, educators and trained volunteers to educate students and citizens how the actions of individuals in a watershed can impact environmental quality and human health.

Watershed Information Network - How to Start a Watershed Team
Would you like to be involved in a local community project? How about working to protect your local watershed? This page will provide you with basic information about initiating a watershed protection project in your community.