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Natural Resources Bulletin - April 13, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009(National Wildlife Federation)
Natural Resources Bulletin - April
13,
2009
Campaign Edition
Global warming legislation that could provide up to $7 billion annually in dedicated funding to protect natural resources for people and wildlife has been introduced in the House of Representatives. From now until Memorial Day when the Bill is voted on in committee, we will be putting out a WEEKLY Natural Resource Bulletin - Campaign Edition. Please read and TAKE ACTION!
Contents:
1. Waxman-Markey Bill and natural resources funding
2. In-District meetings
3. TIME cover story highlights 6th wave of extinctions
Campaign Edition
Global warming legislation that could provide up to $7 billion annually in dedicated funding to protect natural resources for people and wildlife has been introduced in the House of Representatives. From now until Memorial Day when the Bill is voted on in committee, we will be putting out a WEEKLY Natural Resource Bulletin - Campaign Edition. Please read and TAKE ACTION!
Contents:
1. Waxman-Markey Bill and natural resources funding
2. In-District meetings
3. TIME cover story highlights 6th wave of extinctions
4. Headlines in
brief
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1. American Clean Energy and
Security Act - funding unspecified for
natural resources
The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) was introduced two weeks ago and is already starting to gather steam - and a fair share of debate. ACES includes a cap on carbon and clean energy provisions that will help get America's economy and energy security back on track. The legislation also includes a subtitle on "adaptation" measures - how to safeguard wildlife and ecosystems in the face of global warming - but does not specify how much (or even if) this should be funded. If supported by large-scale dedicated funding from the sale of emissions allowances, the natural resources adaptation program would represent a major landmark in the history of wildlife and natural resources conservation.
Estimates place the price tag for natural resource protection in warming world at $7 billion annually, a small fraction of the economic revenue generated by healthy natural resources and tiny in comparison to the costs of inaction. Reps. Waxman and Markey, the authors of ACES, are pushing to pass the bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee by Memorial Day, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has indicated it could come to the floor of the full House this Summer. NWF and other conservation groups are making a hard push over the next 6 weeks to secure $7 billion in dedicated funding be included in this bill by Memorial Day and WE NEED YOUR HELP!
For more information, visit:
http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=5D1B3C93-5056-A868-A01901BF3212B757
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2. What's coming up: In-district meetings
Members of Congress are back in their home districts for a recess until the week of April 20. Many representatives will be holding town hall meetings to speak directly with the public, and because of the accelerated timing of the Waxman-Markey bill, this is a precious opportunity for constituents to discuss natural resources funding with them.
For contact information, visit your member's website (http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml) or call the House switchboard at (202) 225-3121. A partial list of town hall events can be found at http://ga3.org/soe/events.html.
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3. TIME: Vanishing Act
This week's TIME magazine cover article highlights the sixth great period of extinction on Earth - our own era. Roughly thirty percent of the planets species could be gone forever by the end of the century, a timeline that shortens with every year we delay on greenhouse gas reductions. From the forests of Madagascar to coral reefs, wetlands, and savannahs around the world, global warming coupled with development is throwing off Earth's equilibrium and making it harder for plants and wildlife to survive. The ramifications for humans are enormous and frightening: loss of food, raw materials, clean air and water, and protection from extreme weather events like hurricanes. Solving the problem means providing alternatives for local populations, especially in countries like Madagascar where natural resources are a quick payday and government protection is tenuous.
"Climate change could undermine the conservation work of whole generations," says Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation. "It turns out you can't save species without saving the sky." We can change the equation, but a cap on greenhouse gas emissions is necessary as soon as possible, and efforts need to be made to safeguard the resources upon which we all rely.
For more, visit: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1888728_1888736,00.html
Full table of contents: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601090413,00.html
The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) was introduced two weeks ago and is already starting to gather steam - and a fair share of debate. ACES includes a cap on carbon and clean energy provisions that will help get America's economy and energy security back on track. The legislation also includes a subtitle on "adaptation" measures - how to safeguard wildlife and ecosystems in the face of global warming - but does not specify how much (or even if) this should be funded. If supported by large-scale dedicated funding from the sale of emissions allowances, the natural resources adaptation program would represent a major landmark in the history of wildlife and natural resources conservation.
Estimates place the price tag for natural resource protection in warming world at $7 billion annually, a small fraction of the economic revenue generated by healthy natural resources and tiny in comparison to the costs of inaction. Reps. Waxman and Markey, the authors of ACES, are pushing to pass the bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee by Memorial Day, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has indicated it could come to the floor of the full House this Summer. NWF and other conservation groups are making a hard push over the next 6 weeks to secure $7 billion in dedicated funding be included in this bill by Memorial Day and WE NEED YOUR HELP!
For more information, visit:
http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=5D1B3C93-5056-A868-A01901BF3212B757
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. What's coming up: In-district meetings
Members of Congress are back in their home districts for a recess until the week of April 20. Many representatives will be holding town hall meetings to speak directly with the public, and because of the accelerated timing of the Waxman-Markey bill, this is a precious opportunity for constituents to discuss natural resources funding with them.
For contact information, visit your member's website (http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml) or call the House switchboard at (202) 225-3121. A partial list of town hall events can be found at http://ga3.org/soe/events.html.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. TIME: Vanishing Act
This week's TIME magazine cover article highlights the sixth great period of extinction on Earth - our own era. Roughly thirty percent of the planets species could be gone forever by the end of the century, a timeline that shortens with every year we delay on greenhouse gas reductions. From the forests of Madagascar to coral reefs, wetlands, and savannahs around the world, global warming coupled with development is throwing off Earth's equilibrium and making it harder for plants and wildlife to survive. The ramifications for humans are enormous and frightening: loss of food, raw materials, clean air and water, and protection from extreme weather events like hurricanes. Solving the problem means providing alternatives for local populations, especially in countries like Madagascar where natural resources are a quick payday and government protection is tenuous.
"Climate change could undermine the conservation work of whole generations," says Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation. "It turns out you can't save species without saving the sky." We can change the equation, but a cap on greenhouse gas emissions is necessary as soon as possible, and efforts need to be made to safeguard the resources upon which we all rely.
For more, visit: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1888728_1888736,00.html
Full table of contents: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601090413,00.html
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In Brief:
Op-Ed: Dr. Lubchenco and the Salmon - The new head of NOAA faces the problem of Pacific salmon and overfishing
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/11/opinion/11sat3.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
New Orangutan Population Found in Indonesia - As many as 2,000 of the endangered primates discovered in remote area of the country
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/11/international/i221833D68.DTL
Global Warming Endangers US Corn Production, Study Says - Projected losses up to $1.4 billion annually
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-global-warming10-2009apr10,0,2416858.story
In Brief:
Op-Ed: Dr. Lubchenco and the Salmon - The new head of NOAA faces the problem of Pacific salmon and overfishing
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/11/opinion/11sat3.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
New Orangutan Population Found in Indonesia - As many as 2,000 of the endangered primates discovered in remote area of the country
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/11/international/i221833D68.DTL
Global Warming Endangers US Corn Production, Study Says - Projected losses up to $1.4 billion annually
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-global-warming10-2009apr10,0,2416858.story