Number: 2006-05
WHEREAS, the scientific evidence for and dangers of global warming have been documented by the National Academy of Sciences which has stated “increasing greenhouse gases are causing temperatures to rise” and it is “likely that most of the warming in recent decades can be attributed to human activities” and “it is vital that all nations identify cost- effective steps that they can take now”; and
WHEREAS, global warming is already affecting wildlife in the United States and around the world, examples of which include: a trend toward earlier arrival of spring with the frost-free season starting an average of 11 days earlier in the northeastern U.S. compared with the 1950s; the northerly extension of the range of some species of birds, including the summer tanager, Bell’s vireo, and Carolina chickadee, in recent decades; and the reduction in places polar bears can feed and seals can raise their young due to thinning ice in the Arctic region; and
WHEREAS, left unabated, global warming is going to continue to cause severe problems for wildlife in the decades to come. Potential impacts include: the loss of breeding grounds, wintering areas, and migratory stopover sites for birds due to increasing sea levels; a loss of habitat for aquatic species as streams and wetlands dry up due to reduced water levels in some regions, including the Great Lakes; a 9 – 69% reduction by the end of the century in the abundance of ducks in the prairie pothole region, the single most important breeding habitat for duck populations in the U.S.; and the loss of 40% of the coastal wetlands in the contiguous U.S. because of sea level rise by 2100; and
WHEREAS, global warming is having immediate and long term impacts on people, their homes, cities and ability to maintain their livelihood and enjoyment of the outdoors. For instance, over 50% of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of the coastline where the loss of coastal wetlands and the increase in strong storms linked to warmer ocean temperatures increases storm damage and the subsequent costs of replacing homes and entire towns; and
WHEREAS, while the threat of global warming and associated climate change is serious, there are solutions; and scientists have determined that the severity of adverse impacts can be significantly reduced by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation is the single largest source of carbon dioxide (accounting for 39% of the nation’s total emissions) in the U.S. and, without significant action to limit the emissions from this sector, the share from electricity generation is expected to continue to grow; and
WHEREAS, seven states in the northeastern U.S. are leading the nation in addressing emissions from the electricity sector with a mandatory cap-and-trade program known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which will cut emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants in the region 10% by 2019; and
WHEREAS, in September 2003, the governors of Washington and Oregon joined California, in the establishment of the West Coast Governors’ Global Warming Initiative, and the Governors of Arizona and New Mexico have also joined in a Southwest State Global Warming Initiative, committing to the development of a region-wide strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled March 17-18, 2006, in New Orleans, Louisiana, hereby supports regional efforts, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, to establish mandatory programs which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the seven states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to swiftly implement the agreement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the states of Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island to join Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls on all states to pursue mandatory aggressive strategies to curb and stabilize the growth in electricity consumption and to further reduce emissions of greenhouse gases; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls on the U.S. government to institute mandatory policies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from the electricity sector and other sectors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that National Wildlife Federation urges all states to join together in cooperative initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a regional scale; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the implementation of other global warming policies consistent with its previous resolutions.