Bonneville Environmental Foundation: The Key to Climate Recovery

NOTE: The below was sent out by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Both papers referenced are well worth at least a cursory read.

Dear Friends:

Last week saw two major announcements regarding action on global warming.

One was the release of the latest assessment on climate change science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The New York Times described the IPCC report as "a bleak and powerful assessment of the future of the planet," with its conclusion that global warming is "unequivocal" and that human activity is the main driver for the rise in global temperature since 1950. The principal human activity contributing to global warming is, of course, the extraction and use of fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas.

The second announcement last week did not garner as much attention, but perhaps it should have. While many scientific organizations continue to focus on assessing the scope of the problems associated with global warming, others have moved on to focus on the solutions. One such example is the publication last week of a significant report by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), entitled Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.

The ASES report describes, in a highly engaging and readable form, the potential carbon emissions reductions from employing energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2030. The report includes separate sections on energy efficiency, including energy in building and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, as well as sections on renewable energy options such as concentrating solar power, photovoltaics (PV), wind power, biomass energy, biofuels, and geothermal power.

Its conclusion? That energy efficiency and renewable energy together can provide the U.S. with its share of the 60 to 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions needed from industrial countries to limit the increase in temperature to 1 degree C (about 1.8 degrees F), and to reduce substantially the risk of unprecedented warming and disastrous consequences.

Global warming is only one the reasons to support the transition to a clean, renewable energy future – a compelling case can also be made on the basis of economic development, energy security, or other environmental benefits. But it's a good enough reason in its own right, and a reason to act sooner – that is to say, immediately – to enable a future that is more stable and secure, more affluent and egalitarian, more environmentally benign and healthier.

What are we waiting for?


Sincerely,

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation
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Take Action Now:

Read the IPCC summary report for policymakers: http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf

Read the ASES report entitled Tackling Climate Change: http://www.ases.org/climatechange/index.htm

Find out what you can do to reduce your own carbon footprint: www.GreenTagsUSA.org


Contact
For the Bonneville Environmental Foundation:
Michele Hirschhorn
MicheleHirschhorn@b-e-f.org
503.248.1905

About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1998 and was a pioneer in developing the market for renewable energy certificates, which it calls Green Tags. BEF reinvests all the net revenues from Green Tags sales in support of its mission, which funds solar power systems for schools and businesses, wind power systems for farms and ranches, and restoration efforts for salmon-bearing streams. Visit www.GreenTagsUSA.org. to learn what individuals, utilities, and businesses are doing to increase the use of wind and solar power in our nation's electricity grids.