Why Must We Act Now?

We have launched our Operation Climate Vote campaign to ramp up public pressure on Congress to tackle global warming this year. That's because when it comes to fighting global warming, we are running out of time.

Scientists tell us that even if we cut global warming emissions to zero tomorrow, there is enough carbon dioxide pollution already accumulated in the atmosphere to increase global temperatures for decades to come. Every additional ton of carbon we emit accelerates this warming trend.

To stave off runaway, catastrophic global warming, scientists tell us that we must stabilize the concentration of carbon dioxide pollution in the earth's atmosphere at 450 parts per million. To reach this target, America needs to cut its CO2 pollution by 80% by 2050.

That's an average of 2% reductions per year if we start now.

However, even after Congress passes a global warming cap and the president signs it into law, it will take another couple years to develop and implement procedures to effectively administer the law.

So, it will be 2010 at the earliest before we begin achieving real emissions cuts.

And, if we don't pass law this year, the politics of passing legislation next year during a presidential campaign is dicey. It could be 2009 or later before we have another realistic chance to pass a bill.

The longer we delay, the deeper we have to cut to hit our 80% reduction target by 2050.

Why Cap and Trade?

The most effective policy approach Congress can adopt is a cap and trade program because cap and trade offers the best chance we have to cut emissions quickly and economically. It sets the hard cap to cut pollution but then encourages companies to develop new technologies and efficiencies to achieve emission cuts.

The key advantage to cap and trade is that the more a company reduces its emissions, the more money it can either make or save. Across the whole economy, the most efficient ways to cut pollution will be put into practice most widely, most quickly.

Most importantly, a cap is the only system that guarantees the emissions reductions that scientists say we need. Other approaches try guess at what will cause the necessary cuts, a cap mandates it.

Scientists have described the urgency. Cap and trade is the most viable and effective solution. It's up to us to keep the pressure on for real action this year.