The Quick Facts: Measures must be taken both nationally and internationally to slow the pace of global warming. Domestically bills are pending in Congress to reducing global warming while the international community will meet in December to further international efforts. These actions will hopefully help curb greenhouse gas emissions but we should all do our part at home to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and teach our kids to do so as well by encouraging kids to turn off lights in the house; explaining the need to carpool; and planting trees.

We keep hearing about global warming but little action has taken place. Recently, there is momentum in the U.S. Congress as well as from the international community that indicated national and international actions might be taken to address global warming, in particular, to limit the emission of carbon dioxide. Despite national and international action, you and your family can take action to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and teach your kids about our impact on the air.

Science & Policy

Scientists have reported, and politicians are beginning to agree, that greenhouse gases are making the earth hotter, the consequences of which include rising sea level, failing crops, etc. (see Real Mama’s article “What’s Hot 2007? The Earth”). The primary greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in April 2007 to be a “pollutant” that could be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just like any other pollutant today (i.e., power plants have to limit their emission of most other pollutants). Importantly, almost half of the states are already limiting greenhouse gases in some way.

Domestic Actions

In the House of Representatives, H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) was introduced on May 15, 2009, by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA). The bill’s key provision is a cap-and-trade program. A cap-and-trade program requires a power plant or other entity that emits carbon dioxide to buy a permit for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted each year. The government runs such a program and establishes a target level for all greenhouse gas emissions (or cap) so that the number of permits distributed by the government remains below the emission level set by the cap. Once distributed, the permits are freely traded (bought and sold) by other companies who need to emit more pollutants than they have permits for, or even by non-profit organizations that want to reduce the overall amount of greenhouse gases emitted. The government then reduces the number of permits issued over time to meet target levels (or cap) aimed at reducing the overall level of emissions overtime.

In the Senate, S. 1462, the American Clean Energy and Leadership Act of 2009 (ACELA) was introduced July 16, 2009 by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). The bill does not include a cap-and-trade program but relies on establishing national standards for renewable electricity generation. These standards would require that utilities provide a certain amount (for example, 20 percent by 2020) of electricity from renewable sources in an effort to level the playing field in terms of the competitive advantage coal and oil hold as the fuel of choice for the generation of electricity.

In addition to legislative efforts, the Environmental Protection Agency has indicated a willingness to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted from power plants or other large emitting sources. Largely in response to the April 2007 U.S. Supreme Court case, the EPA recently published a rule for comment that would start the process of regulating carbon dioxide like other pollutants and requiring those who emit it to limit such emissions (including cars).

International Actions

Some countries are already limiting greenhouse gases emissions due to their participation in the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol set up an international cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide that required nations to reduce emission levels to below 1990 levels. The Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. In December 2009, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) will convene in Copenhagen to try to agree on a new international climate change regime to replace the Kyoto protocol. The United States failed to fully participate in the Kyoto Protocol and is not subject to it despite being the largest contributor to global warming. The U.S. is responsible for approximately twenty-five percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Importantly, on a global scale, China now emits as much greenhouse gas as the United States and India’s greenhouse gas emissions are predicted to greatly increase by 2030 due to expected growth. Participation of these nations in the new talks is essential to making headway to reducing global warming. However, the United States still has the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the world and has contributed the most greenhouse gas emissions, by far (the U.S. emits the same amount of greenhouse gases as 2.6 billion people living in 151 developing countries).

Talking to Kids about Global Warming

With this background in mind, there are things you can do at home and with your kids to start introducing them to the idea that our actions impact the earth. Talking to kids about the reasons for helping to reduce emissions is important. Depending on the age the child, try to make it an interesting topic and something you can work on as a family. In our family, with a 5, 3, and 1 year old it is as basic as saying that “Turning off the lights can help save the polar bears.” Although there are many steps in between turning off the lights and preserving polar bears habitat, having a connection as to why they need to turn the lights off helps them remember to do it and feel good about it. Here are some additional tips (for more tips about relating global warming to children’s learning, see Real Mama’s article about what your family can do about global warming entitled “Solutions to Global Warming for the Reasonable Family”):

• Teach kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room.

• Combine errands or carpool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make the errands relate to your kids.

• Plant trees for special occasions or at the very least if you cut any trees down, be sure to replace them.

Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h2454pcs.txt.pdf (Text of H.R. 2454, 111th Congress).

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s1462pcs.txt.pdf (Text of S. 1462, 111th Congress)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/17/AR2009041701453.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2009041800145 (Washington Post, Juliet Eilperin, EPA Says Emissions Are Threat to Public, Finding Could Lead to Greenhouse Gas Limits, Wash. Post, April 19, 2009)

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment/downloads/EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0171-0001.pdf (EPA issued a proposed rule finding that carbon dioxide and other GHGs pose a danger to the public’s health and welfare. Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Finding for Greenhouse Gases under § 202(a) Clean Air Act; Proposed Rule, 74 Fed. Reg. 18886 (April 24, 2009))

http://www.ipcc.ch (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading scientific body for the assessment of climate change, established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences.

http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/USGas%2Epdf (Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Designing a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program for the U.S. (2003))

The Quick Facts: In a weekend, your family can reduce the amount of carbon they emit. To improve your family’s energy efficiency: turn your thermostats to 68ºF when you’re home and 55ºF when you are away; use compact fluorescent light bulbs; unplug electronics (cell phone chargers, DVD players and televisions) when they aren’t in use or use power strip. To conserve hot water: reduce the temperature on your hot water heater to 120ºF (most are set at 140ºF); take shorter showers; only run washer and dishwashers when full; wash clothes in cold water; and insulate your water heater. To reduce transportation needs, combine errands; walk, bike, take a bus and car pool; keep your car tuned with the tires properly inflated; don’t leave your car idling; accelerate slowly; use cruise control; obey the speed limit; and frequent farmer markets and downtown areas to buy locally grown or made products which could save 1500 travel miles for food shipped from farm to dinner plate. To consume less: reuse more; recycle; plant a tree; and calculate your carbon footprint and offset it.

Most scientists agree that global warming is a reality that will lead to potentially
catastrophic climate changes, and that human-driven greenhouse gas emissions,
particularly carbon dioxide emissions, are fueling that reality. For more
information on global warming, see Real Mama, Inc.’s Spring 2007 Issue article
entitled, What’s Hot in 2007? The Earth.)
According to Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit environmental
organization operating since 1967, the average two-person American Household
emits 33.8 metric tons of carbon (or 30,000 pounds) every year from home
energy use, transportation and from the energy used to produce all of the
products and services consumed. That is about the same amount of carbon
pollution created by cutting and burning all the trees in a section of the
Amazon rainforest the size of 4.2 football fields. While that statistic
may be daunting and shocking, you shouldn’t let it overwhelm you. There
are many things your family can do to reduce global warming. In fact, there
are many things you can do in a weekend as a family to reduce the amount
of carbon your family emits.

Step 1. Improve your Energy Efficiency.
The best way to reduce carbon emissions is to improve your energy efficiency at home and at work.

Conserve in Temperature, Lighting and Electronics.

• Reduce thermostats to 68∞F when you’re home and 55∞F or lower when you’re away.
• Turn off lights when you leave a room.
• Instead of using standard light bulbs, use compact fluorescent lights which
  cost more than standard ones but last up to 10 times longer and use 66%
  less energy. (This could become mandatory for some. See Real Mama, Inc.’s
  Spring 2007 Issue article entitled, Lighten Up:
  California’s Controversial Light Bulb Legislation.)
• Unplug electronics such as cell phone chargers, DVD players and televisions when they aren’t in use or use power strips (they consume far less energy). If you can’t unplug your computer enable the power management feature that allows the computer to “sleep” or go into a low-power mode.

Conserve hot water.

• Reduce the temperature on your hot water heater to 120ºF (most are set at 140ºF).
• Take shorter showers.
• Only run the washer and dishwasher when full.
• Wash clothes in cold water.
• Insulate your water heater. A hot water tank is the second largest user of energy in a home. Installing an outside layer of fiberglass on your hot water tank will reduce the rate of heat loss and the energy required to keep water at the desired temperature. Water heater insulation kits are available that consist of a blanket of fiberglass insulation and do-it-yourself insulation instructions.

Step 2. Reduce Transportation Needs.
Many Americans are defined by their vehicles. In addition, many of us shop at the “big-box” stores and go home with more than we ever intended to buy. Break free from the habit of driving everywhere and shopping in bulk; it will have not only an impact on global warming but your lifestyle as well.

• Combine errands.
• Walk, bike, take a bus and car pool.
• Keep your car tuned with the tires properly inflated.
• Don’t leave your car to idle.
• Accelerate your car slowly.
• Use your car’s cruise control feature.
• Obey the speed limit.
• Buy locally grown food. At a farmer’s market, buy food grown locally or buy local produce at your grocer instead of stocking up at a “big-box” store. Also purchase locally raised grass-fed meat rather than conventional meat. From farm to dinner plate, food grown in the U.S. travels 1500 miles on average. In addition to transportation emissions, energy is used to package and refrigerate food.
• Purchase Goods from Local Artisans. Like with food, the less distance products travel, the less they pollute. Shopping in a downtown area rather than a “big-box” store allows you to walk from store to store and provides opportunities to purchase handcrafted goods and gifts from local producers.

Step 3. Consume Less and Reuse More.
Simplify your life and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by needing less and using what you have.

• Consume less. Everything we buy from toys to furniture takes energy to
  manufacture, package and ship. Instead of buying something new, explore second-hand stores or flea-markets. Before you buy anything, ask yourself if you really need it.
• Reduce and reuse. Choose pre-owned products, products that have recycled content and products that are sold with less
• Recycle. Store recyclables in sorted bins, and set them out for collection in accordance with your collector’s instructions, or take a trip to your local recycling center.

Step 4. Have Fun!
Not all this saving-the-world-stuff has to be work. There are things you can do with your kids that are fun and can improve the global warming situation.

• Plant a tree. A single tree will absorb up to 2000 lbs. of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. Shading your air conditioning unit with trees and shrubs can reduce its energy usage by 10-15%.
• Calculate your carbon footprint and offset it. Your carbon footprint is a representation of the amount of carbon dioxide you emit and the resultant effect you have on climate. Visit websites like www.nativeenergy.com or www.safeclimate.net/calculator to determine how much carbon dioxide you and your family emit. Once you know the amount of carbon dioxide you and your family emit, the amount of power generated by burning fossil fuels can be reduced by your supporting renewable power. The way the energy market works requires that for every unit of power generated by a renewable generator (e.g., wind), one less unit will be generated by fossil fuel generator. Many programs exist on the internet to “buy” the amount of carbon you use. Additionally, Whole Foods stores carry a Wind Power Card from Renewable Choice Energy that you can buy at their store. When you buy such a card, the money goes to wind farms to cover the extra cost of adding more clean, sustainable energy to the national electric grid which pushes out the need for power generated from fossil fuels. Buying a family card for $15 will cover the amount of power an average family uses per month.

Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:

http://www.nativeenergy.com/individuals.html
(NativeEnergy is a privately held Native American energy company that builds
wind energy and methane projects in communities in need with the support
of those who buy offsets)

http://www.safeclimate.net/calculator/
(The SafeClimate carbon footprint calculator allows you to determine carbon
dioxide emissions from major sources: home energy consumption and transportation
by car and plane. SafeClimate for Business engages the private sector worldwide
in creating solutions to critical global environmental problems in which
industry plays a defining role)

http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html
(EPA website about climate change designed for kids)

www.fightglobalwarming.com (Environmental
Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than
500,000 members that links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector
partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental
problems)

The Quick Facts: California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine would like to pass a law in California that would ban all traditional light bulbs from being sold by the year 2012. He advocates the use of compact fluorescent bulbs which are 75% more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. Critics have dusted off their old mantra that “California has gone too far.” While the idea of switching to more efficient light bulbs is not by itself a new idea, the mandating legislation if passed, would be the first of its kind.

How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?
Don’t let the funny title fool you. It’s not a joke. It’s not even a rhetorical
question. It is the name of a controversial piece of legislation that California
Assemblyman, Lloyd Levine intends to introduce into California’s State Legislature.
The “How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb Act” is an
attempt to stem the tide of global warming by banning the sale of traditional
incandescent light bulbs by 2012. (For more on the issue of global warming,
see Real Mama, Inc.’s Spring 2007 Issue articles entitled, What’s
Hot in 2007? The Earth and Solutions to Global
Warming for the Reasonable Family.)

According to Levine, who chairs the California Assembly’s Utilities and Commerce committee, replacing one 75-watt incandescent light bulb with a 20-watt compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) is equivalent to preventing 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas, the excess of which is blamed for causing global warming) from entering the atmosphere. CFLs use about 25% of the energy, generate 70% less heat and last 13 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Attention, Ridicule and Drawbacks
Assemblyman Levine has received much attention over this proposed piece of legislation. His office has been besieged with requests for interviews and dozens of news articles have been written on the topic. His idea has even been spoofed on the tongue-in-cheek news program, “The Colbert Report.” But serious critics argue the law should fail because of lack of technology, prohibitive costs, and the need for freedom from imposing laws.

General Electric (GE), a multinational technology and services company that is a leading manufacturer of light bulbs, cites the improbability of switching over every type of light bulb by 2012, pointing out that the technology to create a CFL for the small chandelier light bulb is not yet available.

Others take issue with the higher cost of CFLs, which can be up to $2.50 per light bulb more expensive than incandescent light bulbs. In response to cost critics, Assemblyman Levine argues that in the long-run CFLs end up saving individuals more money-up to $62 over seven years for the average person-because of the fact that fluorescent bulbs last longer and therefore need to be replaced less often than their incandescent counterparts.

Technology and costs aside, the loudest voice against the legislation is that of critics who oppose the law’s imposition on their freedoms. It seems that even those who agree that CFLs are a more efficient lighting appliance would prefer that natural consumer choice drive the light bulb change not legislation. For Assemblyman Levine, and others who wish everyone would reduce their energy consumption, that process could take too long.

Real Mama, Inc. will continue to monitor and report on this piece of legislation.

Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a40/
(Website for California State Assembly Democratic Caucus that details Assemblyman
Levine’s proposed legislation.)

http://www.iwrc.org/downloads/pdf/LightBulbFacts.pdf
(The Iowa Waste Reduction Center provides free, confidential and non-regulatory
environmental assistance to small businesses in Iowa.)

http://www.rmi.org/(Rocky Mountain Institute
(RMI) – a nonprofit group that focused on energy policy)

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls
(Energy Star website at which the EPA, in conjunction with the Department
of Energy (DOE), promotes a program called “Change A Light, Change The World.”
The program offers guidance to consumers on how to switch to more energy
efficient appliances and encourages Americans to replace a conventional
light bulb or fixture in the home or workplace with one that has earned
the government’s Energy Star label for energy efficiency.)

The Quick Facts: The science of global warming has been debated for decades. While there are still some scientists, businesses and politicians that believe global warming is not driven by human influences, but is instead simply due to natural climate variability, the vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is a reality fueled by human activities. The IPCC’s 2007 Fourth Assessment Report-the work of more than 2,500 scientists from 130 countries and research conducted over six years -finds that scientists are “virtually certain” (99% sure) that human use of fossil fuels is contributing to global warming. Evidence has been building that the Earth is getting hotter with NASA reporting that the hottest years were (in order with hottest first): 2005, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The IPCC predicts an average world temperature increase of 2.7 to 8.1 degrees by 2100; more heat waves; a potential sea level rise of up to 20 inches by 2100; an average 6 inches or less annual rainfall for the U.S.’s South West, and an annual average 6 inches more rainfall for the U.S.’s North East; and 50 more (than average) days that never fall below 32 degrees for the U.S.’s Pacific North West.

The science of global warming and climate change has been debated for decades. A greater awareness of global warming of late has surfaced due to increased media attention and recent occurrences of intense hurricanes, flooding, tsunamis, droughts, shrinking ice caps and rising sea levels. As an environmental attorney, mother of two and an inhabitant of the planet Earth, I am glad that people are finally paying attention to the issue. With the heightened awareness of this issue, politicians will likely be sharpening their pencils to take it on. Since political action is often a long and drawn out process, it is important for the everyday person to better understand the problem and what needs to be done individually and as a global community to improve the situation.

The Global Warming Problem
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), global warming is an average increase in the Earth’s temperature which in turn causes changes in climate. Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect, a natural process in which greenhouse gases-including water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halogenated fluorocarbons, ozone, perfluorinated carbons and hydrofluorocarbons-allow incoming solar radiation to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere, but prevent heat generated from the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere from escaping.

At its natural levels, the greenhouse effect is necessary to sustain life on Earth, keeping the Earth’s temperature about 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer that it would otherwise be. However, with the introduction of power-driven machines during the Industrial Revolution, population growth, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, humans are now releasing many gases, including greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere. The abundant emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is of particular concern, as it is released when fossil fuels, like oil and gas, are burned to power our cars, produce and package products and supply electricity to our homes.

This human-driven excess emission of greenhouse gases may be increasingly heating the Earth and ultimately altering the Earth’s climate. A warming climate change means long-term changes in weather patterns, including warmer temperatures and increases in annual precipitation.

The Scientific View of Global Warming
While there are still some scientists, businesses and politicians that believe global warming is not driven by human influences, but is instead simply due to natural climate variability, the vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is a reality fueled by human activities. The definitive word on global warming comes from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations (UN) Environment Program. It is open to all members of the UN and WMO. The role of the IPCC is to use peer reviewed and published scientific/technical literature to assess in a comprehensive, objective and open manner the state of knowledge on climate change at regular intervals.

Since 1990, the IPCC has performed four climate assessments. In its 2001 First Assessment Report, the IPCC predicted average global temperatures would rise 2.5 to 10.4 degrees by the end of this century. For comparison, from 1901 to 2005 the rise in global temperatures was just 1.2 degrees. It appears that thus far IPCC scientists have been accurate in estimating temperature changes, as two separate 2005 Science magazine studies confirmed the Earth’s atmosphere is warming from human-caused increases in carbon dioxide at rates predicted by the IPCC.

At the time of the 2001 report, scientists concluded that human use of fossil fuels was likely (66% sure) a contributing factor to global warming. Today, the IPCC’s 2007 Fourth Assessment Report-the work of more than 2,500 scientists from 130 countries and research conducted over six years -finds that scientists are “virtually certain” (99% sure) that human use of fossil fuels is contributing to global warming. Although only one of three stages of the IPCC’s 2007 Report has yet been published, there have been prepublication reports in the media of the IPCC’s conclusions for the United States’ climate, some of which are as follows:

• Temperature – a predicted average global temperature increase of 2.7 to 8.1 degrees by the year 2100 (with predictions that in the U.S. temperatures will rise most in the Upper Midwest and Mountain West regions)
• Heat waves – predictions of approximately three more (than usual) heat waves that last three days or more in the typical year
• Precipitation – a predicted annual 6 inches less than average rainfall for the U.S.’s South West, and an annual 6 inches more than average for the U.S.’s North East
• Frost Days – predictions that the U.S.’s Pacific North West will see at least 50 more (than average) days per year that never fall below 32 degrees
• Sea Level – predictions that sea levels may rise up to 20 inches by the year 2100, posing danger to at least half of the U.S. population which lives 50 miles from the coastline

In the United States, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (an independent body of the federal government) was asked by Congress to study climate change. In June 2006, a report was released that concluded that the Northern Hemisphere is the hottest it has been in 2,000 years and human activities are responsible for recent global warming. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the warmest years on record for average annual temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were (with hottest listed first): 2005, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

As with temperature increases, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels have also increased. Carbon dioxide emissions have more than tripled since the 1950s and according to the scientists at Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Initiative (”CMI”), if we continue at our current level of emissions the amount of carbon dioxide will double from their current level by 2054.

The Political View of Global Warming
Al Gore weighed in on global warming with his documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” and other politicians are now talking about global warming. For the first time in one of his State of the Union Addresses, President George W. Bush took on the issue of global warming in his January 2007 address. In that address, President Bush called for developing renewable, alternative fuels and decreasing our dependence on oil. Members of Congress have also stated that they will be taking on the issue of global warming. After winning a majority in the House and Senate in last November’s election, Democrats plan to introduce climate change bills and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is creating a special committee on climate change.

In addition to this political chatter, more than 12 states are now taking steps to reduce global warming, among which is California where Governor Schwarzenegger ordered the world’s first low-carbon limits on passenger-car fuels in January. California’s new standard is expected to reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels by at least 10% by 2020. Further, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, more than 300 mayors, representing all 50 states and 50 million people, have signed pledges since 2005 to cut greenhouse gas emissions in their communities.

The Solutions
So we know the science and we know there’s political rant on the
issue, but can we really do anything on an individual basis? Yes; there
are many things you can do in everyday life that can reduce the amount of
carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere and improve the situation of
global warming. To get started, visit the websites listed below, which provide
information on how to reduce your impact on global warming, and read Real
Mama, Inc.’s Spring 2007 Issue article, “Global
Warming: Solutions for the Reasonable Family.”

Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:

http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html
(EPA website about climate change designed for kids)

http://www.ipcc.ch/ (Recognizing the problem
of potential global climate change, the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988 to regularly assess
and report on the status of global climate change. It is open to all members
of the UN and WMO)

http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/climate/facts/
(Co-op America is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1982
to harness economic power – the strength of consumers, investors, businesses
and the marketplace – to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable
society)

http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/
(Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing
more than 500,000 members that links science, economics, law and innovative
private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most
serious environmental problems)

http://www.heartland.org/pdf/19497.pdf
(2006 testimony by the President of the National Academy of Sciences on
their Report “Climate Change: Evidence and Future Projections)

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/2005_warmest.html
(NASA, a federal agency whose mission is to pioneer the future in space
exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research, press release
entitled, “2005 Warmest Year in Over a Century”)

http://www.princeton.edu/~cmi/mission/index.html
(Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Initiative is a joint effort with
Princeton University Environmental Institute, BP and Ford to find a solution
to the greenhouse gas problem)