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The United States, long considered a laggard in addressing global warming, is poised to achieve large reductions in global warming pollution thanks to clean energy policies adopted over the past decade by state governments, according to a new report by the Environment America Research & Policy Center.

"While there's no doubt that Congress must pass a comprehensive climate bill, our research shows that the states have delivered a down payment on the pollution reductions," said Matt Elliott of Environment New Jersey — the state chapter of the national Environment America federation.

The new report, America on the Move, released just days before world leaders convene in Copenhagen to negotiate an international agreement on global warming, found that state policies, if fully realized, will reduce global warming pollution by approximately 536 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent per year by 2020 compared to business as usual.

Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon welcomed the news of significant greenhouse gas reductions projected in a December 3 report and commended New Jersey's environmental stewardship in the fight against climate change.

"Today's report testifies to the significant accomplishments of our nation's environmental stewards in helping deliver real, positive change to protect the environment," McKeon (D-Essex) said. "New Jersey has been at the forefront of the fight against climate change with the nation's most aggressive greenhouse reduction targets, the first market-based cap and trade program, and an Energy Master Plan which provides for 30% of all the state's energy consumption coming from renewable sources by 2020," McKeon added. "But our environment demands eternal vigilance and we must continue to move forward to protect and preserve our planet from global warming."

The emission reductions that will be realized by New Jersey and other leading states are significant. They represent:

• More global warming pollution than is currently emitted annually by all but eight of the world's nations;
• Approximately 7 percent of U.S. global warming pollution in 2007;
• Annual emissions from 104 million cars - about 42 percent of the nation's motor vehicles;
• Annual emissions from 163 coal-fired power plants - about 27 percent of the nation's coal-fired power plant fleet.

"America's clean energy revolution - led by the states - shows that the nation is ready to tackle the challenge of global warming," said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). "President Obama should take the next step by working to forge a strong agreement to address global warming during the international negotiations in Copenhagen," she added.

America on the Move reviewed more than 100 policies adopted by states, most of them enacted over the past decade, and estimated the emission reductions that will result from those actions.

For example, while the U.S. Congress has yet to adopt a binding national limit on global warming pollution, six U.S. states — New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Maryland — have adopted such limits. These six states account for nearly a quarter of America's economic output and 13 percent of its fossil fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions. If these six states were a separate country, they would rank as the world's fifth-largest economy and seventh-leading emitter of carbon dioxide.

Collectively, these six states have committed to reducing global warming pollution by approximately 13 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Including a regional cap on power plant emissions adopted by 10 northeastern states, mandatory emission caps will reduce U.S. emissions by approximately 270 million metric tons per year by 2020 — a level of carbon dioxide pollution comparable to that produced annually by the Netherlands or Turkey.

According to the report, additional reductions will result from a variety of clean energy policies adopted by multiple states, including renewable electricity standards adopted by 29 states, energy efficiency resource standards adopted by 22 states, and a variety of other policies.

Moreover, since President Obama's inauguration in January, the federal government has implemented several policies initiated by the states nationwide — including limits on vehicle global warming pollution adopted by California and 13 other states, strong energy efficiency standards for appliances and lighting, and strong building energy codes. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed by Congress in February, also supports a variety of state and local programs to save energy and reduce global warming pollution.

"When it comes to America's response to global warming, what's happening on Capitol Hill is only half the story," said Elliott. "States have great power to reduce global warming pollution within their borders and many states are now using that power to implement clean energy policies that rival those in place anywhere in the world," he added.

Environment New Jersey and Environment America urged the federal government to require reductions in global warming pollution in the United States consistent with the reductions scientists say are necessary to prevent the worst impacts of global warming — specifically, emission reductions of 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and at least 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, with the vast majority of those reductions to occur domestically. The groups also encouraged the federal government to implement the best clean energy policies in place at the state level, and urged states to continue to take leadership in adopting and implementing policies to reduce global warming pollution.

"States have been called America's ‘laboratories of democracy,'" said Elliott. "By taking strong action to address global warming, states are showing the nation — and the world — that a clean energy future is within our reach. But there's no doubt that we have more work to do. In New Jersey, we need to kick it into high gear and immediately enact policies that will promote wind, solar, and energy efficiency measures that will ensure that we meet our global warming reduction mandates. And in Washington, DC, our Congressional leaders must approve strong, nation-wide climate legislation sooner than later. We can't wait another day," Elliott concluded.

"New Jersey is very lucky to have Environment New Jersey as a partner in addressing global warming," said Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes III (D-Edison). As representatives from around the world meet in Copenhagen to discuss a comprehensive plan to address global warming, Environment New Jersey will continue to lead the fight on protecting our precious natural resources," Barnes said.

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM