Governor Quinn Backs Environment Illinois on States' Climate Role

As world leaders prepare to meet in Copenhagen on Monday to develop a plan of action to combat global warming, all eyes are on the United States. The Environment Illinois review of dozens of individual state policies, federal policies based on state models, and new federal policies in which states will have key roles in implementation suggests that state actions will be able to limit global warming.

State actions will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 536 million metric tons by 2020, according to the report. That is more global warming pollution than is currently emitted by all but eight of the world's nations, and represents approximately seven percent of U.S. greenhouse gases in 2007.

For comparison, the UN Environment Programme estimates that globally a total of 38 billion tons of greenhouse gases are emitted every year.

"To preserve our environment for future generations and help create green jobs now, Illinois has made a serious commitment to investing in green infrastructure and renewable energy technologies. We've made significant progress but there's much more to be done," said Governor Quinn, a Democrat.

"I applaud Environment Illinois for its hard work and for keeping this critical issue at the forefront of environmental public policy debates," he said.

Governor Quinn was joined at Friday's event by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott; Senator Heather Steans, a Chicago Democrat; Alderman Manny Flores and Environment Illinois staff attorney and clean energy advocate Brian Granahan.

"Investing in green jobs and clean technology will strengthen Illinois' economy in the face of the national economic recession," the governor said. "Standing up for our environment is the right thing to do, and also the smart thing to do."

The coal-fired Dallman power plant on the shore of Lake Springfield, powers the Illinois state capital city of Springfield. (Photo by Terry Farmer courtesy CWLP)

States have the power to limit carbon dioxide emissions, to regulate electric and natural gas utilities, to adopt standards for the energy performance of buildings and equipment, to regulate land use and transportation policy and, on a limited basis, to establish emission standards for vehicles.

Six U.S. states – California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey – have adopted binding caps on global warming pollution from their states' economies. Combined, these six states produce nearly a quarter of America's economic output and 13 percent of its fossil fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions.

If these six states were a separate country, they would rank as the world's fifth-biggest economy and seventh-leading emitter of carbon dioxide.

Collectively, these six states have committed to reducing global warming pollution by approximately 13 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

Ten northeastern U.S. states have created a regional cap-and-trade system for emissions from electric power plants, and two other regions of the country are considering similar regional efforts.

Illinois has already moved in the direction of greenhouse gas reductions. Several of the report's recommendations – such as adopting a state renewable electricity standard, a state energy efficiency resource standard and a statewide building energy code – have already been established in Illinois.

In addition, as recommended in the report, Illinois state government is leading by example by achieving LEED Silver standards for new construction and major renovation of state facilities, following Environmentally Preferable Procurement practices, and using only green cleaning products in all schools and state buildings.

Describing himself as a "longtime environmentalist," Governor Quinn says he has made protecting natural resources a top priority.

Shortly after taking office on January 29, 2009, Governor Quinn signed an executive order to reduce the environmental impact of state government operations and an agreement to purchase 100 percent wind power for all Springfield state buildings managed by the Department of Central Management Services.

In September, Quinn endorsed the "25x25" vision that encourages greater use of renewable alternatives, with a goal of producing 25 percent of Illinois' energy from renewable resources such as biofuels, wind, solar, and hydro by the year 2025.

In November, he signed legislation to support energy efficiency projects to help jump start job creation and construction in Illinois.

The Environment Illinois report urges President Barack Obama to negotiate an international agreement at Copenhagen this month that will deliver sufficient emission reductions to prevent an increase in global average temperatures of more than 2° C (3.6° F) above pre-industrial levels – a commitment that would enable the world to avoid the most damaging impacts of global warming.

The report recommends that the United States commit to emission reductions equivalent to a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gases from 2005 levels by 2020 and an 83 percent reduction by 2050, with the majority of near-term emission reductions coming from the U.S. economy.

But the goals of Environment Illinois seem unlikely to be met. In a statement in November, President Obama offered greenhouse gas emissions cuts of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, the level contained in the bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in June.

Meanwhile, the report recommends that individual states move forward with effective implementation of policies already adopted while continuing to shift toward a clean energy economy and "aggressively" reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Click here to view the report, "America on the Move: State Leadership in the Fight Against Global Warming, and What it Means for the World."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.