Global Warming News

Richmond, Virginia—Virginia’s global warming pollution increased by 35 percent since 1990, according to a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Virginia.

“More pollution than ever before is not a record we want to set,” said Environment Virginia Advocate J.R. Tolbert.  “It’s time to take control of our energy future.  By harnessing the power of the wind and the sun, we can cut pollution and transition to clean energy sources that don’t harm the environment, never run out, and create new, local jobs,” he continued.

For decades, America’s use of fossil fuels – and the global warming pollution that results – has been on the rise nationally and in states across the country.  For Virginia, global warming means a lot of things, but the impact that is among the most concerning is that Hampton Roads is the nation’s second most vulnerable region to sea level rise inundating our coasts. The science shows that the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.

Too Much Pollution uses the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy on fossil fuel consumption by state to look at trends in carbon dioxide emissions.  The key findings include the following:

• Virginia’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption increased by 35 percent between 1990 and 2007.  Over this time, emissions from electricity generation increased by 80 percent, far faster than emissions growth in any other sector.  Most of the growth happened in the early to mid-1990s.  From 2004 to 2007, growth in natural gas emissions has been much faster than growth in coal.  While natural gas is less polluting than coal, Virginia would be better served by investing in energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy.

• In Virginia, transportation was the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption – responsible for 43.7 percent of the state’s emissions in 2007.  The state remains heavily wedded to automobiles for its transportation needs.  In fact, carbon dioxide from burning oil jumped by 30.3 percent from 1990 to 2007, as demand for travel – and so driving – increased.  Until Virginia invests in public transit and other transportation alternatives, coupled with land use policies that encourage more compact development patterns that reduce the need for driving in the first place, emissions from transportation will continue to increase.

• Nationally, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased by 19 percent between 1990 and 2007.  Power plants and vehicles, the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, were responsible for the lion’s share of the increase. 

In contrast to the trend in Virginia, more than one-third of the states succeeded in cutting pollution from 2004 to 2007 – before the onset of the economic recession.  The initial success of these states shows that moving to clean energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions – and that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side.  For instance, four Northeast states – Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York – cut their pollution levels by 5 percent since 1997, while increasing their gross state product by 65 percent.

“We can drive the economy without driving up pollution.  By moving to clean energy, we can cut pollution, help jump-start the economy, and create millions of new clean energy jobs across the country,” said Tolbert.

The report recommends that the federal government build on the initial progress made by some states by passing strong clean energy legislation and adopting common sense EPA rules to cut pollution from aging coal plants and big smokestack industries.  The Senate is in the process of considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer.  In addition, EPA has proposed a rule to require coal plants and other large smokestack industries to use available technology to cut their global warming pollution when new facilities are constructed or existing facilities are significantly modified.

Unfortunately, Dirty Coal, Big Oil, and other polluters are fighting the transition to clean energy.  The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent at least $45 million dollars last year alone – more than $120,000 a day – on lobbyists and advertising on energy.  Earlier this year, they hired lobbyists who forged phony constituent letters to Congress opposing action on clean energy.  “The coal industry has proven themselves willing to do or say virtually anything to block progress,” said Tolbert.

“We urge Senators Webb and Warner to vote for this critical bill to cut pollution and create clean energy jobs.  We also urge EPA to finalize its rule to cut global warming pollution from coal plants,” said Tolbert.

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Environment Virginia is a state-based, citizen-funded environmental organization working for clean air, clean water, and open space.