PHILADELPHIA—As Pennsylvania approaches the end of a summer that saw extreme heat waves and severe flooding plague much of the state, a new report released today by PennEnvironment outlined how the country can achieve the pollution reductions necessary to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. The report found that we can reduce our global warming emissions nationally by nearly 20 percent within the next 15 years through six policies that focus on boosting energy efficiency and renewable energy.

"Global warming is the greatest environmental threat of our time-for Pennsylvania and the entire globe," said Nathan Willcox, PennEnvironment's energy & clean air advocate. "Thankfully, we know that by cutting global warming pollution we can defeat this threat, and our report walks through the six steps that can make these pollution reductions a reality."

PennEnvironment was joined at an event to release the report by Congressman Chaka Fattah, Congressman Curt Weldon and Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick, all of whom have cosponsored the Safe Climate Act in Congress. This new legislation would require an 80% cut in global warming pollution below current levels by 2050-the reductions scientists say are necessary to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. Congressmen Weldon and Fitzpatrick are two of the only three Republican members of Congress to sign on as cosponsors of the Safe Climate Act nationally.

"Global warming is a serious danger to America's future generations," said Congressman Chaka Fattah. "National and local leaders must work together and move aggressively to resolve the issue of heightened climate change. Policies must be developed and implemented that will decrease the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and increase the quality of life for our children."

"Increased global warming and environmental degradation in the wake of an ever globalizing planet are two of the greatest challenges we face. The Safe Climate Act is groundbreaking legislation that would forge a more certain path toward lessening America's global warming emissions and environmental pollution. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I commend PennEnvironment for keeping these very crucial issues in the forefront of everyone's minds," said Congressman Curt Weldon.

"Climate change is one of the largest environmental threats the world faces today and the United States cannot ignore this problem," said Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick. "Greenhouse gas emissions will continue increase without strong government leadership, and so I am pleased to cosponsor the Safe Climate Act."

"PennEnvironment applauds all of these Congressmen for showing tremendous leadership in the effort to cut global warming pollution," added PennEnvironment's Willcox.

The new report, entitled Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States, is the first report to provide a national blueprint for achieving the short-term cuts in emissions that science shows are needed to put the U.S. on a path to avoid the worst effects of a warming world.

The report details six challenging but feasible steps to improve the energy efficiency of our economy and use more renewable energy. These strategies, coupled with strong, mandatory limits on global warming emissions, would reduce U.S. global warming emissions by 19% below 2004 levels by 2020. At the same time, the steps would improve American's long-term economic and energy security. The six steps include:

1. Increase vehicle gas mileage standards to 40 miles per gallon and set gas mileage standards for large trucks. Establishing federal gas mileage standards for cars during the 1970s reduced oil imports-as well as global warming pollution. But the gas mileage of new vehicles is now lower than it was during most of the Reagan administration. All types of vehicles can be designed to be far more energy efficient using technologies that already exist or will soon be available. Similarly, major gas mileage improvements are possible for heavy-duty trucks, which are currently exempt from gas mileage standards.

2. Replace 10% of vehicle fuel with biofuels or other clean alternatives. Ethanol and biodiesel that are produced cleanly and sustainably have the potential to significantly cut global warming emissions, especially if these biofuels are produced from plant wastes and cellulose. Other technologies-like "plug-in" hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles-have the potential to dramatically reduce global warming emissions in the future.

3. Reduce energy consumption in homes, business, and industry by 10%. Dramatic improvements in energy efficiency are possible in virtually every aspect of American life. For now, the U.S. can encourage weatherization of buildings, deployment of more efficient appliances, and efficiency improvements in industry. Soon, new technologies will transform the way we consume energy and achieve even larger improvements in efficiency.

4. Obtain 20% of our electricity from new renewable energy sources. America has virtually limitless potential for the generation of power from natural forces. By ramping up our use of renewable energy such as wind power, solar power, geothermal and biomass energy-and using much of that energy to replace power production at dirty, coal-fired power plants-the U.S. could dramatically reduce global warming emissions from electric power production.

5. Stabilize vehicle travel. Americans drive nearly twice as many miles per year as they did a quarter-century ago, leading to increased emissions of global warming pollutants. Americans are already cutting back on driving as a result of higher gasoline prices, but many people have few realistic alternatives to driving. Through changes in public policy and development patterns, increased transportation choices can reduce the growth in vehicle travel.

6. Hold emissions from other sources to current levels. The five strategies listed above would address the largest sources of energy use and global warming emissions in the U.S. But some other sources of global warming pollution-such as emissions from air travel and emissions of some non-carbon dioxide global warming gases-are projected to increase significantly in the years ahead. The U.S. must stabilize, and eventually reduce, global warming pollution from all sectors of the economy.

"Taking these steps would be a sizable down payment on the larger pollution reductions that the U.S. will need to achieve in the decades ahead to keep global warming in check," said Willcox.

To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, the U.S. must stabilize emissions within the next decade, begin reducing them soon thereafter, and cut global warming pollution by 80% by the middle of this century.

The steps outlined in this report also would reduce U.S. dependence on scare fossil fuels and, in many cases, create jobs and save money.

"The potential payback from these efforts is tremendous-both in avoided economic and environmental impacts from global warming and in the establishment of a more secure energy future. The result would be a cleaner, more sustainable foundation on which to build America's economy for the 21st century," said Willcox.

At the state level, Pennsylvania has already taken a leadership role on one aspect of the global warming issue through the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program, expected to be adopted this fall. The program will require the sale of cleaner cars in Pennsylvania, cutting annual global warming pollution from the state's cars and trucks by nearly 25% by 2025. With Pennsylvania and other states taking the lead, PennEnvironment called on Washington to act.

Earlier this summer, Rep. Henry Waxman of California and Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont introduced the Safe Climate Act, which would reduce U.S. global warming emissions by 13% below 2004 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2004 levels by 2050. PennEnvironment strongly urged the state's other members of Congress and Senators to follow the lead of Congressmen Fattah, Weldon and Fitzpatrick by cosponsoring this important legislation.