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December 9, 2003
Contacts: Arthur Stamoulis 215-567-4004 ext. 222
United States Leads
the World in Global Warming Pollution
Pennsylvania Pollutes More than 105 Countries Combined;
PA Worst in U.S., Behind Just Texas and California
PHILADELPHIA - A report released today
shows that Pennsylvania emits more global warming pollution
than 105 developing countries put together. The study also
found that Pennsylvania releases more of global warming
pollution than all other U.S. states except Texas and California.
The report, First in Emissions, Behind
in Solutions, is being released as world leaders are
meeting in Milan, Italy to negotiate details of the Kyoto
Protocol on global warming. Despite the U.S. being the leading
world polluter, President George W. Bush still refuses to
support the Protocol or take any real action to reduce the
threat of global warming.
"This report demonstrates how critical
U.S. participation is in the fight to stop global warming,"
said Arthur Stamoulis, Policy Analyst with Clean Air Council.
"The United States leads the world in pollution. We
should also lead the world in environmental solutions. Unfortunately,
President Bush and Congress have backed away from action
on this important issue."
In 2001, President Bush pulled the United
States out of the Kyoto Protocol and broke his only specific
campaign promise on the environment: to clean up global
warming pollution from power plants. The Administration's
energy plan is heavily reliant on oil, coal and gas and
does little to promote alternative energy. Now it appears
the Administration is working to undermine the international
process by lobbying Russia and others not to ratify the
treaty. Without Russia, the treaty can not enter into force.
"It's bad enough that President Bush's
energy plan entirely ignores global warming pollution and
that he refuses to show leadership on the issue," said
Nathan Willcox, Energy and Air Advocate for PennEnvironment.
"But playing politics with the future of the protocol
is simply unacceptable."
First in Emissions, Behind in Solutions
shows the U.S. has been and continues to be the largest
emitter of global warming pollutants. Forty-two of the 50
U.S. states individually emit more global warming pollution
than 50 developing countries combined, and five states separately
emit more than 100 developing countries combined.
Pennsylvania is the third worst state
for emissions of global warming pollution:
- Pennsylvania pollutes more than 105
developing countries combined, over 74 million metric
tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE) per year.
- Pennsylvania has 12.3 million people;
these countries have a total population of more than 778.6
million people.
- Pennsylvania's per capita emissions
are 63 times higher than those of these countries.
"We have the know-how and resources
to address global warming," says Joy Bergey, Project
Director of the Pa. Interfaith Climate Change Campaign.
"Our values compel us to act now to leave a safe world
for our children and grandchildren, and for the poor of
the world, who will be hurt first and foremost by global
warming."
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For a copy of this report, please see:
http://www.net.org/reports/globalwarming/emissionsreport.pdf
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