As
the new home of Arizona PIRG's environmental work, Environment Arizona
can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.
Although
it seems like every day we see more evidence of the dangers of global
warming, according to a new report released by the Arizona PIRG
Education Fund, Arizona can act now to reduce its share of global
warming pollution by adopting policies which would lead to cleaner
cars, the more efficient use of our energy and more solar and other
clean renewable energy sources.
"A Blueprint For Action: Policy Options To Reduce Arizona’s Contribution to Global Warming"
contains 14 policy strategies that if adopted would help Arizona
stabilize its emissions despite dramatic population growth. The report
states these strategies would improve Arizona’s energy security and
begin the technological shifts necessary to reduce Arizona’s emissions
of global warming pollution to levels that do not have a harmful effect
on the climate.
“Arizona
could make major strides towards reducing its share of global warming
pollution by acting now to make cars cleaner, increase conservation and
energy efficiency and expand the use of solar and other clean energy
sources,” stated Diane E. Brown, Executive Director of the Arizona PIRG
Education Fund.
The
following 14 strategies include policies that take advantage of readily
available savings at low cost, or even net economic benefit, to Arizona.
To reduce emissions from transportation:
1.
Adopt the clean cars program, which will put increasing numbers of
hybrid-electric cars on Arizona’s roads and impose limits on vehicle
carbon dioxide emissions.
2.
Require the sale of low-rolling resistance replacement tires that
improve vehicle efficiency without negatively affecting safety.
3. Establish a revenue-neutral “feebate” program to reward the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles.
4.
Require automobile insures to offer pay-as-you-drive automobile
insurance, in which insurance rates are calculated by the mile,
rewarding those who drive less, while potentially reducing accidents.
5.
Adopt policies that would reduce growth in vehicle miles traveled by
cars and light trucks on Arizona’s highways, such as measures to reduce
sprawling development and encourage the use of transit and other
transportation alternatives.
6.
Establish a renewable fuels standard, such that a portion of motor
fuel, both gasoline and diesel, comes from renewable sources.
To reduce emissions from homes, businesses and industry:
7. Reduce energy use by expanding energy efficiency programs provided by electric and natural gas utilities.
8.
Expand appliance efficiency standards for residential and commercial
products, saving money for consumers and reducing emissions.
9.
Improve the efficiency of new commercial and residential buildings and
thereby reduce building-related energy costs and global warming
pollution.
10. Expand the use of energy-efficient combined heat and power systems in industry and commercial buildings.
To reduce emissions from electricity generation:
11.
Dramatically increase the installation of solar photovoltaic and
thermal energy systems on homes and businesses through direct
incentives and new methods of financing.
12.
Expand and strengthen the state’s proposed Renewable Energy Standard so
that 30 percent of all electricity consumed in Arizona comes from new,
clean, renewable sources.
13.
Stop the growth in emissions from coal-fired power plants, using
appropriate public policy tools such as greater energy efficiency
measures or a carbon “cap and trade” program.
To reduce emissions from other strategies:
14.
Reduce government sector emissions through “lead by example” measures,
such as the purchase of renewable power, cutting energy consumption in
new buildings in half, increased energy efficiency, and purchasing more
efficient vehicles for state fleets.
Brown
stated, “The state can significantly reduce its global warming
pollution by creating and implementing programs to achieve the greatest
emission savings. Investing now in our growing infrastructure can make
enormous differences down the road.”
The
consensus view of climate science holds that global temperatures are
increasing, that human activities are the cause, and that further
warming is inevitable unless emissions of gases that trap heat in the
Earth’s atmosphere are significantly reduced.
The
report documents that a changed climate in Arizona is anticipated to
include a variety of impacts including less available drinking water;
an increase in heat waves and extreme high-temperature days resulting
in an increased risk of heat-related illness and death; more fuel for
wildfires during hotter and drier summers; a decline in number of
farmed acres; and increases in rodent-borne diseases.
Recognizing
the problems associated with global warming pollution for Arizona,
Governor Janet Napolitano issued an executive order creating the
Arizona Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG). In June 2006, the group
is charged to provide her with recommendations regarding climate change
policy. Working with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, the governor
also recently created the Southwest Climate Change Initiative to craft
joint strategies for reducing global warming pollution.
The
Arizona PIRG Education Fund said its recommendations are a starting
point and urged the CCAG to investigate other policy options to reduce
global warming emissions, especially with regards to reducing
vehicle-miles traveled and encouraging the developing of non-fossil,
non-nuclear sources of energy and to provide clear benchmarks against
which to measure its progress. The Arizona PIRG Education Fund also
urged the state to adopt strong goals for reducing global warming
pollution in line with neighboring states - New Mexico intends to
reduce its pollution by 10 percent below 2000 levels by 2020 and
California has announced it will reduce emissions to 1990 levels by
2020.
