Climate 411

As the staff at EDF meet with journalists and Hill staff, we often need to explain why it’s so urgent to act quickly on global warming. To help us do this, we just put together a quick summary of the reasons, with links to studies and other references.

I thought you might also find this a good resource if you need to make the same point. Any suggestions for additions and updates would be great, too.

As President Obama so clearly said, “Delay is no longer an option.”

Keith Gaby is communications director of EDF’s national climate campaign.

In 2008, the wind energy industry added so many new jobs that it now employs more people than coal mining. That and other compelling numbers were released this week by the American Wind Energy Association.

This is a great example of how clean energy investment creates jobs. Unfortunately, with investment of all kinds down, experts don’t expect 2009 to be quite as rosy for the wind industry. But the long-term outlook is good for people seeking jobs in this sector — once Congress puts a cap on carbon pollution, the investment dollars will start flowing again, and the hiring will kick back into high gear.

(Hat tip to Green Wombat.)