NEW SCIENTIFIC REPORT ON GLOBAL WARMING SETS STAGE FOR REAL ACTION
IPCC Synthesis Report a ‘must read’ for policymakers around the world

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), recent co-recipient of the Nobel Peace prize, is releasing their Fourth Assessment Report on November 17, 2007. The report prioritizes the findings of the IPCC in 2007—the first year scientists have been in consensus:

• human activity is responsible for global warming
• global warming is here and now
• many technologies already exist to avert the most damaging impacts of global warming

The consensus document is produced through a rigorous, conservative process based on thousands of peer-reviewed scientific articles. This year’s report shows that global warming is happening faster than previously thought, and that policymakers must act within a few years to reduce global warming pollution.

A recent article in the Washington Post quotes Yvo de Boer, director of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, saying that “failing to recognize the urgency of this message and act on it would be nothing less than criminally irresponsible” and a direct attack on the world’s poorest people.

SIX MIDWESTERN GOVERNORS SIGN GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION ACCORD
Agreement serves as regional strategy to achieve energy security and reduce global warming pollution

The Midwest Regional Governors Association (MGA) Energy Security and Climate Change Summit, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this week, produced a landmark agreement that puts the Midwest on track to lead the nation in a clean energy future. Within the next year, Governors and other leaders from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Kansas will establish targets and timeframes for significant global warming pollution reductions. The accord calls for emissions reduction targets consistent with the IPCC's recommended 60–80 percent. The states will develop a market-based, multi-sector cap and trade system to help achieve the reduction targets. Due to current high emissions levels, these states will require more aggressive efforts than those in other regions.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Urge Senator Klobuchar to strengthen bipartisan global warming bill

America’s Climate Security Act (S. 2191), introduced last month by Senators John Warner (R-Va) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn), provides a strong framework for global warming emissions reduction targets and a market-based cap and trade system. However, the measures proposed would not prevent the most dangerous impacts of global warming, including the disintegration of the Greenland ice sheet.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, of which Minnesota’s Senator Amy Klobuchar is a member, has plans to vote on S. 2191 the first week in December. Senator Klobuchar is an original co-sponsor of the bill, and Fresh Energy is urging the Senator to use her position to strengthen the bill to achieve the emissions reductions necessary to slow global warming.

Please call Senator Klobuchar (202-224-3244) and urge her to strengthen America’s Climate Security Act (S. 2191) in the EPW Committee to:

• cover more of the economy and ensure economy-wide emissions reductions of at least 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050
• give the EPA authority to adjust emissions reduction targets
• limit offsets to a small portion of the actual pollution reductions required for each polluter
• eliminate free allowances to polluters

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Fresh Energy works daily for smart energy policies and regulations that enhance our economies, protect human health and communities, restore our environment, and move us toward energy independence. www.fresh-energy.org