The Weathermakers: How Man Is Changing
the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth by Tim Flannery
QUOTE
Thank you for writing me to share your concerns about
global warming. I appreciate hearing from you on this important
issue and welcome the opportunity to respond.
Like you, I am deeply concerned about global warming. In
fact, the National Academy of Sciences has found that the Earth's
surface temperature rose about one degree Fahrenheit during the
20th century. This warming process has intensified in the past 20
years and has been accompanied by a documented retreat of
glaciers, thinning of arctic ice, rising sea levels, and the increasing
likelihood of droughts and floods. Unabated global warming would
result in a number of potential environmental problems including
severe disruptions in normal weather patterns, flooding in coastal
communities, changes in global agricultural production, the spread
of tropical diseases, and the extinction of many species. California
would be hard-hit by these changes.
I strongly believe Congress should act to reduce our
greenhouse gas emissions in order to curb the impacts of climate
change. Please know that as a member of the Senate Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources, I will do everything possible to
support the continued development of renewable sources of power
such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass, in addition to
promoting the most efficient use of our finite resources.
You may be interested to hear that I am currently
circulating my draft legislation "Strong Economy and Climate
Protection" Act, which would establish a mandatory cap-and-trade
system that stops and then reverses the amount of greenhouse
gases that are emitted over time. At this time, I am carefully
considering and evaluating the feedback I have received on this
draft legislation.
Additionally, I am working hard to ensure that California's
laws addressing climate change are not undermined. Senator
Boxer and I recently sent a letter to President Bush expressing our
serious concerns with The National Highway Traffic and Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) new corporate average fuel economy
rule, which would weaken California's laws attempting to cut
greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The letter to the
President is included for your review.
On a related note, I am in the process of reading a very
interesting book on the history of global warming which might
interest you. It is the The Weathermakers: How Man Is Changing
the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth by Tim Flannery.
In it, Flannery describes how the warming trend is firmly
established and the damage already done. I heartily recommend it.
Again, thank you for writing me.
Boxer, Feinstein Tell President To Let
California Fight Global Warming
National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's Rule
Wrongly Tries To Undermine State Climate Change Laws
March 31, 2006
Following is the Senators' letter to President Bush:
March 31, 2006
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to ask that you reverse your attempt to override
California and other state efforts to cut global warming emissions
from automobiles. The National Highway Traffic and Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) new corporate average fuel economy
rule wrongly attempts to undermine state laws that fight climate
change and conflicts with your recently stated approach to global
warming.
Global warming is a grave crisis that endangers our nation's public
health, economic growth and environment. We must act now to
stop this devastating threat.
In 2005, the National Academies of Science for eleven nations,
including the United States, stated that "[t]he scientific
understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify
nations taking prompt action." Recent studies warn that we may be
nearing a tipping point that triggers irreversible damage to our
planet.
On March 29, 2006, you stated that your approach to address
climate change focused on using technology to reduce oil use and
air pollution. Among other innovations, you cited continued
investment in hybrid technologies as being an element of your
plan.
In 2002, California adopted a pioneering law that requires "feasible
and cost-effective" greenhouse gas reductions from automobiles,
which create 30 percent of our nation's carbon dioxide emissions.
California's program uses innovative technologies, including
hybrids, to reduce greenhouse gasses by 30 percent in 2016. Ten
states have adopted California's program.
On March 29, 2006, NHTSA issued a rule that wrongly says that
federal law preempts states' greenhouse gas emissions standards.
The NHTSA does not have authority to regulate emissions, so it is
improper for the agency to try to stop states from acting. This rule
attempts to inhibit state policies that spur technological
innovations, a keystone of your stated approach to climate change.
We strongly urge you to withdraw the preemption language in the
preamble. Special interests may want to end state protections, but
federal law authorizes them and threats to public health demand
such safeguards.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
global warming. I appreciate hearing from you on this important
issue and welcome the opportunity to respond.
Like you, I am deeply concerned about global warming. In
fact, the National Academy of Sciences has found that the Earth's
surface temperature rose about one degree Fahrenheit during the
20th century. This warming process has intensified in the past 20
years and has been accompanied by a documented retreat of
glaciers, thinning of arctic ice, rising sea levels, and the increasing
likelihood of droughts and floods. Unabated global warming would
result in a number of potential environmental problems including
severe disruptions in normal weather patterns, flooding in coastal
communities, changes in global agricultural production, the spread
of tropical diseases, and the extinction of many species. California
would be hard-hit by these changes.
I strongly believe Congress should act to reduce our
greenhouse gas emissions in order to curb the impacts of climate
change. Please know that as a member of the Senate Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources, I will do everything possible to
support the continued development of renewable sources of power
such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass, in addition to
promoting the most efficient use of our finite resources.
You may be interested to hear that I am currently
circulating my draft legislation "Strong Economy and Climate
Protection" Act, which would establish a mandatory cap-and-trade
system that stops and then reverses the amount of greenhouse
gases that are emitted over time. At this time, I am carefully
considering and evaluating the feedback I have received on this
draft legislation.
Additionally, I am working hard to ensure that California's
laws addressing climate change are not undermined. Senator
Boxer and I recently sent a letter to President Bush expressing our
serious concerns with The National Highway Traffic and Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) new corporate average fuel economy
rule, which would weaken California's laws attempting to cut
greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The letter to the
President is included for your review.
On a related note, I am in the process of reading a very
interesting book on the history of global warming which might
interest you. It is the The Weathermakers: How Man Is Changing
the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth by Tim Flannery.
In it, Flannery describes how the warming trend is firmly
established and the damage already done. I heartily recommend it.
Again, thank you for writing me.
Boxer, Feinstein Tell President To Let
California Fight Global Warming
National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's Rule
Wrongly Tries To Undermine State Climate Change Laws
March 31, 2006
Following is the Senators' letter to President Bush:
March 31, 2006
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to ask that you reverse your attempt to override
California and other state efforts to cut global warming emissions
from automobiles. The National Highway Traffic and Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) new corporate average fuel economy
rule wrongly attempts to undermine state laws that fight climate
change and conflicts with your recently stated approach to global
warming.
Global warming is a grave crisis that endangers our nation's public
health, economic growth and environment. We must act now to
stop this devastating threat.
In 2005, the National Academies of Science for eleven nations,
including the United States, stated that "[t]he scientific
understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify
nations taking prompt action." Recent studies warn that we may be
nearing a tipping point that triggers irreversible damage to our
planet.
On March 29, 2006, you stated that your approach to address
climate change focused on using technology to reduce oil use and
air pollution. Among other innovations, you cited continued
investment in hybrid technologies as being an element of your
plan.
In 2002, California adopted a pioneering law that requires "feasible
and cost-effective" greenhouse gas reductions from automobiles,
which create 30 percent of our nation's carbon dioxide emissions.
California's program uses innovative technologies, including
hybrids, to reduce greenhouse gasses by 30 percent in 2016. Ten
states have adopted California's program.
On March 29, 2006, NHTSA issued a rule that wrongly says that
federal law preempts states' greenhouse gas emissions standards.
The NHTSA does not have authority to regulate emissions, so it is
improper for the agency to try to stop states from acting. This rule
attempts to inhibit state policies that spur technological
innovations, a keystone of your stated approach to climate change.
We strongly urge you to withdraw the preemption language in the
preamble. Special interests may want to end state protections, but
federal law authorizes them and threats to public health demand
such safeguards.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator