Enviros Push Senate On Energy Bill

With a h/t to Jim, here's the letter environmentalist groups are urging their members to send to their Senator:

Dear Senator,

As you debate the energy bill this week, I am writing to ask you to support serious action to address global warming. A strong cap-and-trade program will enable us to reduce global warming pollution [Note the insert of the word "pollution;" the bill will reduce pollution, but not global warming, such as it is.] while providing companies with the flexibility they need to meet their emission reduction targets.

The time has come to take real action on this issue. As the USA Today summarized in its June 13 cover story: "The debate's over: Globe is warming." [Well, that convinced me!] We have a responsibility to leave our children a healthy, clean world. [Undeniably.]

The rest of the country and the world are already moving forward by taking serious steps to address global warming:

* On June 1, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California signed an Executive Order, committing California to achieve significant reductions in global warming pollution. [Defining "significant" is the significant point here; the reductions are not in the least significant on a global scale.] During the signing ceremony, Governor Schwarzenegger said, "I say the debate is over. We have the science. We see the threat. And we know the time for action is now!" [Which may be why he's sinking in the polls....]
* On June 7, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences joined ten other national science academies in making a strong statement on climate change. The Academies called on world leaders "to acknowledge that the threat of climate change is clear and increasing, to address its causes, and to prepare for its consequences." [Haven't read it yet. Could the devil be in the details?]

* On June 9, the heads of twenty-three global companies called for strong action to mitigate climate change. These leaders from companies such as BP, Ford and British Airways urged the world's leading industrial nations to set up a global system for curbing heat-trapping emissions. [As in, "What good is it to control the U.S. and Europe when China is such a gross polluter?"]

Please follow the lead of these scientists, businesspeople, and state and local elected officials. I understand that there may be several amendments offered addressing climate change. Please support those amendments that provide mandatory caps on global warming pollution [ignoring the human cost and relevance as you do so].

Sincerely,

It's all pretty simple. Greenhouse gasses make up less than five percent of the atmosphere. Human activity represents less than five percent of the impact on these gases. Let's keep it in perspective.