GLIN==> National Wildlife Federation applauds blueprint for Midwest plan to cap global warming pollution

National Wildlife Federation applauds blueprint for Midwest plan to cap
global warming pollution 
 
ANN ARBOR, MI (May 13) – The National Wildlife Federation today praised
a set of recommendations that could lead to the Midwest’s first regional
policy to cut global warming pollution 
 
“These recommendations demonstrate that the Midwest shares Congress’s
desire to take serious action on climate and economic recovery and
should help inform the national debate over clean energy and climate
policy,” said Zoe Lipman, the National Wildlife Federation’s regional
senior manager for global warming. “Taking a pragmatic Midwestern
approach yielded a plan that achieves effective cuts in greenhouse gas
pollution while investing strongly in the region and protecting
consumers and communities.” 
 
An advisory group appointed by Midwestern governors made its
recommendations yesterday on a policy to limit greenhouse gas emissions
in the region. The broad group—comprised of Midwestern utilities, oil
companies, manufacturers, environmental and conservation groups and
state government—proposed emission cuts from all major greenhouse gas
sources by 18-20 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2020, and 80
percent below 2005 levels by 2050. 
 
“Job creation and the associated economic benefits of transitioning to
new energy and transportation technologies is an urgent matter for us –
as is protecting the Great Lakes and the region from the impacts of
climate change,” Lipman added.
 
In November 2007, the governors of Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Kansas,
Illinois and Wisconsin — as well as the Premier of Manitoba — signed the
Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, an agreement to develop and
implement a regional climate policy by 2012. Ohio, Indiana and Ontario
participate in the Accord as observers.  The MGGRA is similar to
northeastern Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative that began functioning
this year, and the Western Climate Initiative due to begin
implementation in January 2012.  The Midwest governors and premier
tasked the 42-member advisory group to develop recommendations for a
comprehensive climate policy.
 
The Accord stakeholders strongly prefer a federal climate policy, but
recognize the need to move rapidly to address climate change and to
provide a regional backstop should the federal government fail to act.
The Advisory group and participating states plan to share the advisory
group’s recommendations with Congress over the next few days to inform
the federal debate.
 
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to begin
consideration this week of a federal clean energy jobs plan that would
cap carbon pollution and invest in renewable energy and efficiency
technology.
 
Highlights of the proposed regional policy include the following:
• An economy-wide regional cap on greenhouse gas emissions, achieving
18-20% reductions by 2020;
• Ensuring the use of revenues from a cap and trade program for
investment in consumer and industrial efficiency and clean energy and
transportation technologies and infrastructure, protecting impacted
consumers, workers and communities, and aiding industry transition, and
helping address the impacts of climate change on communities and natural
resources;
• Mechanisms that provide flexibility, contain cost, and engage the
region’s agricultural sector in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
 
The governors are expected to finalize the Accord in September
following completion of  macroeconomic modeling, and drafting of a model
rule for states.   
 
The National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization
inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
 
For Immediate Release
Date 5-13-09
Contact: 
Zoe Lipman, National Wildlife Federation, 734-834-9344 (cell),
734-887-7108 (work) lipman at nwf.org 
 
 
Jordan Lubetkin
Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation - Great Lakes Office
213 West Liberty, Suite 200 | Ann Arbor, MI 48104
 
Phone: 734-887-7109 | Fax: 734-887-7199 | Cell: 734-904-1589
 
NWF's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our
children's future. www.nwf.org/news/ 
 
Working to restore the Great Lakes by offering solutions to sewage
contamination, invasive species and other threats. www.healthylakes.org
( http://www.healthylakes.org/ )
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