Climate 411

Climate Progress has a new poll from the Wall Street Journal showing yet again that Americans support a comprehensive climate and energy bill. A thousand people were asked:

“Do you support or oppose an energy proposal designed to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, even if it means an increase in the cost of energy?”

The majority said they would support the proposal. Treehugger also has the details.

Mother Jones highlights the joint statement issued by state and national environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, urging Senators to act on climate.

“With millions of gallons spilled in the Gulf of Mexico and a billion dollars a day going overseas for imported oil, we can no longer afford to delay our transition to clean energy. As President Obama told the nation last Tuesday night, “For decades we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires” and we must not “settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom.” The time has come to act.”

E2 reports that Thursday’s democratic caucus was a huge success.

“’A number of senators said this was the best caucus they’ve ever attended,’ Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) said at a press conference after the meeting. ‘It was really very, very powerful. It was inspirational, quite frankly.'”

The Huffington Post – “Why the Senate needs to keep the Change in Climate change”

By David Yarnold, Executive Director of EDF

“The oil spill has served as a stark reminder of the costs of our national addiction to fossil fuels. The polluted waters and crude-covered pelicans remind us of the ever- more-dangerous methods we must undertake to drill for oil.”

“We have seen too many well-meaning, and even well-timed, efforts at energy reform over the years. Half-solutions are not solutions. We need to put a price on carbon.”

Treasure Coast Palm – “A Few Better Recipients of Rep. Barton’s Apologies”

By Rachael Carson-Zerbe, Vero Beach

“Big oil killed the electric car. It campaigned against solar and wind power. It has done all it can to make us completely dependent on oil.  The true costs of oil are never factored in: war, damage to our environment or global climate change.”

“Let’s all move forward together for a sane energy policy and leave a planet behind for our children to cherish and care for as Mother Earth deserves.”

On E2, Senator Kerry explains his position on climate policy.

“If we are going to get serious, we have to price carbon. There are many different ways of doing that. I am not locked in to one single way of doing it.”

Green Inc. highlights a new study proving once again that

“the vast majority of the world’s active climate scientists accept the evidence for global warming as well as the case that human activities are the principal cause of it.”

On Treehugger, climate change and clean energy are listed as priorities on the G20 summit agenda.

“We reiterate our commitment to a green recovery and to sustainable global growth, including through investments in clean energy. We reaffirm our resolve to address climate change and to continue to engage constructively in the negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change towards a post-2012 climate change regime with the participation of all major economies.”

The Huffington Post – “Learning from The Gulf Oil Spill Could Save Our Planet”

By James M. Gentile, President of Research Corporation for Science Advancement

“If nothing else, the oil plumes are silent evidence that some challenges are so big and consequential that we can no longer simply assume that we will somehow muddle through. What’s desperately needed here is the organized ability to think broadly, think radically, and then act – surely and swiftly.”

“Ironically, what we learn from the Gulf oil spill could well save our planet. The question is: Will we learn?”

The Huffington Post – “Disaster in the Gulf: Making Sure it Never Happens Again

By Byron Kennard, Founder of Center for Small Business and the Environment

“Now I imagine that we will probably find and fix whatever technical malfunction caused the Deepwater Horizon explosion. But this is no way to make sure it never happens again. To do this, we must change course.”

“The report outlines a time-line for this transition and shows how costs will be offset with real economic gains. ‘We can build whole new industries and create millions of new jobs,’ Google declares. ‘We can cut energy costs, both at the gas pump and at home. We can improve our national security. And we can put a big dent in climate change.’”