Ask Strickland to Join the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord
Nearly 90 percent of Ohio’s electricity is generated by burning coal. The result is that Ohio is the nation’s fourth leading emitter of carbon dioxide, the primary global warming pollutant. Scientists agree that in order to avoid the worst impacts of global warming we need to reduce pollution by 15-20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. In order to meet these targets, we need Ohio’s leaders to set a cap on the amount of pollution that we are emitting today, and require strong emission reductions over time.
While Congress has been slow to act on global warming, many other states have taken the lead and are making their own plans to reduce their global warming pollution. Already, more than a dozen individual states have adopted plans to curb global warming pollution, and are using new technologies like cleaner cars, and renewable energy and energy efficiency to meet their targets. Additionally, 10 northeastern states have joined together to implement a regional cap-and-trade program to reduce their emissions, and the western state’s aren’t far behind with their own regional agreement.
Last year, the Midwestern Governors Association decided it was time for our region to actively work towards solutions to climate change. On November 15, 2007 six Midwestern governors (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Kansas) and the Canadian Province Manitoba signed on to the “Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord.” This is a regional effort designed to cut global warming pollution through a cap-and-trade agreement.
Governor Ted Strickland decided to sign on to the agreement as an observer, not a full participant. Ohio can’t afford to sit back and watch the consequences of global warming; we need to take action now. Please help us encourage Strickland to join the six other Midwestern governors as a full participant in the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.
Contact Governor Strickland today at his constituent hotline at (614) 644-4357 and urge him to help Ohio do its part to curb global warming.
For more information contact Environment Ohio at (614) 460-8732; www.environmentohio.org or visit www.midwesterngovernors.org/govenergynov.htm.