SSI Report Back, June 2008
SSI members have lent their voices and expertise to a wide variety of topics ranging from climate change to invasive species. This spring marked the first time Congress considered comprehensive climate legislation on the Senate floor, a crucial time for experts on climate change science, economics and policy to weigh in with policy makers. Ensuring sound science informs our policy makers is integral to developing effective solutions and we thank you for helping bring scientists' voices to the public and policymakers
Target for U.S. Emissions Reductions
Ballast Water Legislation
Scientist and Economists Call to Action
Federal Climate Legislation
Target for U.S. Emissions Reductions
Earlier this year, we hosted a web seminar for SSI members on a recent study from UCS and scientists at Stanford University and Texas Tech University. The study shows that to avoid the most severe effects of climate change, the world must stabilize the concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere at no more than 450 parts per million. This limit aims to avoid exceeding a two degree Celsius increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels (roughly equivalent to a 3.6 degree Fahrenheit rise above current temperatures).
The study found the United States must cut its emissions by at least 80 percent below 2000 levels by 2050 if the world is to stay within the prescribed atmospheric concentration limit. Cutting emissions soon is essential. Read the report.
Ballast Water Legislation
On invasive species, there is good news. The House of Representatives passed--by an astounding 395-7 vote--a solid bill requiring that ships' ballast water be treated before discharge. This is one step toward ending ballast water's status as one of the last unregulated pollutants. The ballast water title was part of the much larger Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 (H.R.2830). On the Senate side, the Commerce Committee introduced and passed its Coast Guard bill (S.1872), without including provisions for ballast water. We and our allies are pressing for a vote on the Senate floor. If successful, we aim to strengthen a number of specific measures when the Senate/House conference committee meets to agree on common legal language.
In other aquatic news, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after delaying for years, named several species of Asian carp to the list of injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. Silver carp, largescale silver, and black carp may not be imported or moved interstate any longer. Thanks to SSI experts who sent public comments, favoring these regulations.
Scientist and Economists' Call to Action
The U.S. Scientists and Economists' Call for Swift and Deep Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions was released May 29, 2008. More than 1,700 prominent scientists and economists endorsed the statement calling on policymakers to require immediate, deep reductions in heat-trapping emissions that cause global warming -- the first time leading U.S. scientists and economists have joined together to make such an appeal. View the statement and its endorsers.
The statement emphasized the strength of the science on climate change and of climate change's growing risks, including sea level rise, heat waves, droughts, wildfires, snowmelt, floods and disease, as well as increased plant and animal species extinctions. Acting quickly to cut global warming pollution would be the most cost-effective way to limit climate change. The statement concludes that the United States should reduce global warming pollution on the order of 80 percent below 2000 levels by 2050 and that the first step should be reductions of 15 to 20 percent below 2000 levels by 2020.
If you would like to add your name to this effort, we will continue to accept new endorsers for additional outreach this fall and next year. The statement is open to Ph.D. or doctoral candidate professionals with expertise relevant to our understanding of the scientific and economic dimensions of climate change, its impacts, and solutions.
Federal Climate Legislation
In connection with the release of the U.S. Scientists and Economists' Call for Swift and Deep Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, during the first week in June, fifteen endorsers traveled to Washington, DC to meet with senators and representatives to deliver the statement and call for swift and deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to the meetings, the statement was hand-delivered to every office in the senate and house, many with personalized cover notes. During the same week, the Senate considered the Lieberman-Warner climate change legislation. This marked the first time comprehensive climate legislation was seriously considered on the senate floor.
Although not policy prescriptive, the statement is highly policy relevant and its release was timed to coincide with the senate policy debate. The statement provided a strong scientific foundation for the debate and helped spur action on the senate floor. The statement was also well received in the House, which is in the process of developing its own climate legislation.
Unfortunately, Senate debate on the legislation or any amendments was stalled by procedural tactics of the Republican leadership, and the filibuster was not overcome. Nonetheless, 48 senators voted to continue debate on the legislation and another six, although absent, sent statements expressing their support to continue debate. This is an incredibly important result, as more Senators supported climate action than ever before. This year's vote allows us to hold Senators accountable and move forward to set the stage for next year with a new President who will show real leadership on climate change.
