Calls for climate change legislation in the US

The organization Environment New Jersey is calling for Governor John Corzine to pledge to reduce the NJ's greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by the year 2050. It is also encouraging NJ legislators to support the federal Safe Climate Act (supported by Rep. Waxman of California) that would cut emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. If you're interested in joining the campaign, check the organization's website.

For those of you not in the Garden State, the NJ initiative calls attention to the many proposed emissions policies being advanced at the state and federal level in the US. The above chart, courtesy of the World Resources Institute, shows the myriad of different proposed bills before both federal houses (hard to read this version, go to their site for an original). Add the many proposed and signed state agreements, like those in California, Oregon, the New England states, etc.), and the chart becomes unreadable.

The point is this: Although federal action seems unlikely in the next two years, given the, er, reticence of the current administration in the White House, that should not be mistaken for a lack of enthusiasm in the US for legislation addressing climate change. States are already passing legislation. The momentum means that every serious 2008 presidential candidate, whether red, blue or purple, will announce their intention of passing some form of federal legislation.