Global warming is the most pressing environmental problem facing Minnesota. Scientists at the University of Minnesota are predict that if we don’t take action to stop global warming, the ecology of the Boundary Waters could change so significantly that, within 50 years, the wilderness would look completely different.
In May 2008, the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group recommended that the Legislature take a number of steps that would reduce emissions from the transportation sector, including adopting a clean car standard, shifting to low-carbon fuels, shifting the way we plan our cities and towns so that they are more bike, train and pedestrian friendly and less car friendly, and increasing the availabilty and use of public transportation.
Environment Minnesota is working with allies to make these recommmendations a reality, while advocating for federal policy solutions to make our transportation cleaner and greener.
During the spring of 2009, Environment Minnesota worked with the Clean Energy Minnesota coalition to counteract the opposition of automakers and push for a Clean Car standard in Minnesota - a standard that would have set stricter tailpipe emisisons for new cars, light-duty trucks and SUVs. Clean cars are a win-win-win for Minnesota, saving consumers money, cleaning up the air we breathe and cutting the global warming pollution that threatens our special places. Unfortunately, the legislature failed to adopt this common sense policy.
Luckily, on May 19, President Obama proved himself to be behind the wheel in
the race to a clean energy economy by announcing that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation
will develop a national clean car standard. This is what leadership
looks like.
President Obama's standard will reduce global warming pollution from new vehicles by 30 percent and achieve an average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 – four years earlier than under current law.
According to the White House, the program will save 1.8 billion barrels
of oil and reduce global warming pollution by 900 million metric tons, which is equivalent to eliminating the pollution from 177 million of today's cars or 194 coal plants.
Environment Minnesota applauds the 14 states that spearheaded the drive for cleaner cars - and the half a dozen states, including Minnesota, that have been urging their legislatures to adopt this common sense policy this year. We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for
these trailblazing efforts.
Environment Minnesota thanks Representative Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and Senator John Marty (DFL-Roseville) for their leadership as chief authors of the Minnesota Clean Car Act.
This year, we look forward to working with Clean Energy Minnesota and other allies to advance poilicies in St. Paul and in Washington DC that will make our transportation cleaner and greener.
