Climate Capsule Week of March 2

Highlight of the Week

In Address To Congress, Obama Calls For Carbon Cap

President Obama delivered his first presidential address to a joint session of Congress last week, and projected his plans for the year ahead.

"Just as Greensburg, Kansas rises from the rubble of a tornado and rebuilds a cleaner energy future, America can rebound from our economic crisis by investing in renewable energy and energy efficient technologies," said Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation.

The same solutions that protect our climate for future generations will also repower our economy. A cap on carbon pollution will transform our future by creating new jobs and new industries in a new, clean energy economy today while building long-term solutions to global warming.

President Obama last week helped set the nation's agenda. In 2009, the country will turn vision into action and enact a cap on carbon pollution that repowers America with clean energy, safeguards America's natural resources, and protects our planet for our children's future.

Coalition Successes: Great Lakes, Teaming With Wildlife In DC

Last week more than 120 citizen activists representing all eight Great Lakes states arrived in Washington, DC for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition fly-in. After discussing upcoming legislative issues such as a cap-and-invest bill that would dedicate revenues to restoration, ballast water regulation, and the urgent need for toxic sediment cleanup, participants heard from two representatives of the new administration. In their addresses to participants, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Council on Environmental Quality Director Nancy Sutley reaffirmed President Obama’s commitment to the Great Lakes and to all of America's "Great Waters."

As Coalition members convened on Capitol Hill and visited the Great Lakes Congressional delegation, good news filtered from the White House and was confirmed with the release of the President’s budget. President Obama included $475 million dollars in new Great Lakes restoration funding—marking the largest Presidential commitment to the lakes' in history.  The budget also dedicated $3.9 billion to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs of which more than $1 billion could flow to the Great Lakes.

At the same time, the Teaming With Wildlife coalition went to Capitol Hill to ask members of Congress for immediate action on global warming. 100 coalition members from more than 30 states called for a comprehensive climate bill with dedicated funding to protect our natural resources. Other top priorities include the passage of the Teaming With Wildlife Act and funding for fiscal year 09/10 State Wildlife Grant appropriations.

 At an evening reception on the Hill, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D–TX) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) were among those honored for their work protecting wildlife from global warming. Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of NWF, challenged Congress to make the most of the opportunities presented by a new political and economic landscape, urging the creation of green jobs based on clean energy and a healthy environment.

Quote:

"I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America."

—President Barack Obama in a recent address to a joint session of Congress.

Economic Message of the Week

U.S. Companies Poised For Growth Under Carbon Cap

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has released a groundbreaking online map that identifies and profiles more than 1,200 companies in key manufacturing states poised to grow their business and create new jobs when Congress passes a cap on global warming pollution. 

The interactive map was released at the first meeting of Vice President Joe Biden's task force on middle class jobs. It highlights hundreds of companies and communities in coal country, the rust belt and other manufacturing regions poised to benefit from demand for clean energy technologies created by a cap on carbon. 

The task force meeting highlighted new ways to increase renewable energy jobs and improve America's energy efficiency. A carbon cap will create new markets and new customers for companies in the supply chain for low-carbon energy technologies and services.

LessCarbonMoreJobs.org identifies the locations, products, and services as well as select case studies and worker profiles for companies in 12 states: Tennessee, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Florida and Virginia. 

LessCarbonMoreJobs.org allows visitors to search by state, Congressional district and media market to find companies manufacturing windmill components, shipping solar panel equipment and installing energy efficient building materials. The site also provides business details and contact information for companies in each profiled state.

Power Shift: Repowering Our Future

PowerShift 2009 was an exhilarating success this past weekend, when youth from across the country met to express their message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Capitol Hill. 

12,000 young people converged in Washington, DC for a series of workshops, trainings, spontaneous rallies and a rallying lobby day.

The Power Shift weekend was kicked off at the Walter E. Washington Conference Center in DC by a series of keynote speakers. Headliners included Reps. Ed Markey (D–MA.) and Donna Edwards (D-MD), the band The Roots, members of indigenous communities, and students representing all 50 states. The crowd was full of energy and committed to tackling our generation’s greatest challenge.

The west lawn of the Capitol building was a sea of green hard hats on Monday. Power Shift participants met with their elected officials all day to lobby for comprehensive climate legislation this year.

For more information and a firsthand account of the massive call to action, contact NWF's Lisa Madry at Madry@nwf.org or (512) 610-7755.

Happening This Week

Tuesday, March 3: "The Role of Federal Lands in Combating Climate Change," House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests & Public Lands. 1324 Longworth House Office Building, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 4:  Alliance to Save Energy's Energy Efficiency Forum on Capitol Hill. Energy Secretary Chu Keynote at 10 a.m.; Presentations by seven members of congress, industry leaders, and state energy officials. Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-50, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday, March 5: The EPA holds a public hearing to reconsider California's request for the authority to cut greenhouse gas emissions by new cars and trucks to combat global warming. EPA Potomac Yard Conference Center, Room S1204, Arlington, VA. Contact Catherine Bowes, NWF Climate Policy Representative, at bowes@nwf.org.