States Pave Way for Global Warming Action

Several U.S. states ahead of Washington in global warming fight

Posted: 09-Jun-2007; Updated: 08-Jul-2007

We won't solve the global warming crisis without comprehensive, economy-wide global warming action at the national level.

But, states from coast to coast are not using that as an excuse to sit on the sidelines. State and local officials are paving the way and showing that with the right mix of political courage and policy innovation, global warming action is possible.

At least 300 global warming bills have been filed in 40 states, and more than 400 mayors have committed their cities to reduce emissions.

Here are some of the most notable actions taken to date:

Western governors take on climate

In February, governors from five western states – Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington – agreed to work together to create a regional system to promote clean energy and energy efficiency to slow emissions of global warming pollution.

California already passed a first-of-its-kind law establishing a statewide cap on global warming pollution last year. There is hope that this regional agreement could evolve into a comprehensive regional cap.

The Northeast: Focusing on power plants

This winter, Massachusetts and Rhode Island joined a regional initiative of the other northeastern states designed to use a cap-and-trade system to reduce power plant emissions 10% from 2009 levels by 2019. We're working with member states to implement the agreement.

Cleaning up King Coal

The 150 old-fashioned coal plants on the drawing boards nationwide threaten to undo climate gains already achieved. We’re working to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and new coal technologies that reduce emissions.

Our campaign against Texas-based energy giant TXU’s rush to build old-style plants was so successful that when two firms bid to buy the company, they brought us into negotiations. We contributed to their decision to cancel eight coal plants in Texas.

We also helped bring about a California law requiring all power plants that provide dedicated electricity to the state (even out-of-state plants) to meet strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions. This helped lead to the cancellation of coal plants in Idaho and Nevada. Our efforts along with strong local opposition also led a coal plant in New Mexico to be cancelled.

California enacts first statewide climate cap

California has emerged as a test case for successful climate action. Environmental Defense cosponsored the measure to reduce the state’s emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and now we are helping put the system in place, advising state agencies on opportunities for early action, cap-and-trade design, reporting and other regulatory issues that will ensure the law’s success.

Farmers harvest carbon

With more than half the U.S. covered by farms, ranches and privately owned forests, landowners can play an important role in reducing heat-trapping gases—and gain new sources of income. In Idaho and other states, we’re helping landowners reduce emissions and measure and sell the carbon they store in crops, trees and soil. We’re helping dairy farmers do the same with captured methane.

A commitment on cars

Supported by Environmental Defense, 12 states have adopted programs cutting global warming pollution from vehicles. And now, in a remarkable step forward, the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers—the main industry trade group—has urged national action on global warming.

A few weeks earlier, the top automakers and the United Autoworkers went on record before Congress in support of a national cap. And just this week, General Motors was one of 12 new companies to join the U.S. Climate Action Partnership urging national legislation to reduce America's global warming pollution by 60-80% by 2050.