Number: 2009-07
WHEREAS, global warming creates an unprecedented environmental threat not only to wildlife and its habitat, but also to the security, safety and prosperity of people worldwide that cannot be solved without a global cooperative solution; and
WHEREAS, to prevent the worst impacts of global warming, scientists say that global warming pollution must be reduced as swiftly and deeply as possible and developed countries as a whole need to reduce their global warming pollution by at least 80% by 2050; and
WHEREAS, historically the U.S. is a leading emitter of global warming pollution and has a significant and unique leadership role to play in securing a fair climate treaty with both developed and developing nations that are seeking a new climate agreement; and
WHEREAS, the International Energy Agency projects that global energy demand could increase 45% by 2050 and fossil fuels, particularly coal, in developing countries will account for much of that increase; and
WHEREAS, many developing countries are taking action to reduce global warming pollution, but their effectiveness will depend on assistance from developed countries to finance the deployment of clean energy technology, protect forests, and confront lack of access to energy by poor communities; and
WHEREAS, deforestation in developing countries accounts for about 20% of all human-caused CO2 emissions and has devastating impacts on watersheds, and conversely, tropical forest growth absorbs about 20% of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and protects fresh water resources; and
WHEREAS, the adverse impacts of global warming—including increased probability of natural disasters, spread of disease, and food and water shortages—will fall disproportionately on the poorest countries that have done the least to contribute to global warming and have the smallest capacity to adapt to them; and
WHEREAS, climate change acts as a “threat multiplier” in some of the most volatile regions of the world by destabilizing economies and undermining stability and security in developing countries; and
WHEREAS, the “Bali Road Map”, which was adopted at the thirteenth session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali, Indonesia in 2007, emphasized the importance of assisting developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation, deploy clean energy technology, and adapt to unavoidable climate impacts, and committed toward agreeing on a new international climate treaty in Copenhagen in 2009;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled April 30 – May 2, 2009, in Pittsburgh, PA, urges the U.S. government to expeditiously negotiate and ratify a fair and effective international treaty that will, in accord with scientific findings, avoid climate change by keeping any further rise in global temperatures below 2 degrees Fahrenheit, and assist developing countries in deploying clean energy technology, avoiding deforestation, preventing fresh water shortages, and adapting to the unavoidable impacts of global warming; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, to do its part in reaching a global agreement, NWF calls upon Congress to pass global warming legislation that includes specific targets to reduce global warming pollution as swiftly and deeply as possible in accordance with current climate science; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, to negotiate an international treaty, NWF urges Congress to adopt global warming legislation that includes measures, with necessary funding levels where appropriate, to: a) assist developing countries to deploy clean energy technologies to launch rapid transformations to low-carbon economies, b) build strong institutions to reduce deforestation through improved law enforcement, land management and public participation by local communities and recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and c) cope with the unavoidable impacts of global warming and equitably protect the most vulnerable people and natural resources from harm.