Common Sense
Common sense tells us that we shouldn't rush to pass climate change legislation. We need to make sure that our policy on climate balances the energy and economic needs of all Americans – both short and long term, with our environmental goals.
Our Message
We believe that there are common sense approaches to our energy policy that will strengthen American energy security, provide our country with affordable energy, and address issues related to global warming.
Unfortunately, legislation moving through Congress lacks the very common sense that has served our country well over its history. The Common Sense Movement was formed to urge our elected officials in Washington to vote only for legislation that balances our country's need to have a vigorous economy fueled by affordable, abundant energy with concerns about climate warming. Our view is, if legislation does not pass the "common sense" test, then elected officials should vote NO.
Energy Realities
Passing current climate change legislation would require the United States to reduce emissions from fossil fuels by 80 percent in only a few decades.
Our emissions have not been that low since 1910, way before cell phones and the personal computers. Today, fossil fuels are responsible for generating more than 70 percent of the nation's power, while wind and solar provide less than 2 percent. It is clear that current climate change legislation does not have reasonable timetables in place for success.
So, how DO these rushed timetables and restrictions affect global climate change? Studies show that we won't even lower global climate by two-tenths of one degree. In fact, Lisa Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency verified that U.S. efforts to reduce CO2 emissions via this bill will have little to no impact on atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gasses if carbon restrictions are not made elsewhere in the world.
Quick Facts
- Fossil fuels, like coal, natural gas and petroleum, currently provide more than 70 percent of the nation's power.
- Hardships faced by Americans as a result of current climate change legislation would result in a mere 0.2 degree reduction in the world's climate - all pain for no gain.
- Climate change bills now being considered call for up to a 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and more than 80 percent by 2050.
Climate Change
Science is not about consensus. It is about testing theories with verifiable information. And when it comes to understanding climate change, there are competing theories. The fact is, we don't really know why the earth's climate warms and cools. What we do know is that climate is constantly changing and that the world, over its several billion year history, has had periods that were warmer and that were colder than the climate we experience today.
In fact, you might say that climate change is the norm when it comes to planet earth.
So the debate over whether carbon dioxide plays a significant role in altering the earth's climate is still a matter of scientific debate and investigation. However, most scientists and many policymakers understand that reducing, or even eliminating, all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions over the next 40 years is not likely to have much impact on global temperatures over the rest of this century. This is especially true if other large emitters of greenhouse gases such as China or India decline to reduce their emissions.
The rush to enact Climate Change Legislation began during a period when global temperatures appeared to be rising. However, during the last 10 years, average earth temperature has stopped rising and has actually cooled, a fact not predicted by the mathematical models used by proponents of strict emission limits on greenhouse gases.
Quick Facts
- Since 1998 the Earth's climate has declined.
- Even if the U.S. eliminated all of its greenhouse gas emissions, it is not likely to change average global temperatures.
Solutions
Most experts believe that the world will continue to depend on fossil fuels for much of the energy on which we all depend. So the question isn't "how do we get rid of fossil fuels," but "how do we use our abundant fossil fuel reserves in the best way possible."
We believe that with adequate time and sufficient resources, the United States will develop technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the use of fossil fuels. That way, we can have it both ways. We can continue to use the fossil fuels that keep energy prices low and our economy humming, while controlling the carbon dioxide emissions that concern some Americans.
These technologies, which collectively are referred to as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), are already in use in smaller scale applications, and work is already underway to scale up these technologies to handle the larger task of removing carbon dioxide from large facilities such as a coal-fired power plant. While some of the carbon dioxide that is captured can be used for other purposes, most will need to be stored underground, and work is already underway to identify places where such storage could take place. Fortunately, the United States is blessed with geologic formations that are estimated by some to be able to hold nearly 1000 years worth of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
Developing these technologies would also give the U.S. a product that could be exported to other countries - particularly those countries that we already know plan to continue to rely on fossil energy to meet the energy needs of their people.
What is crucial to this effort is time. Most experts believe that CCS can be developed for commercial-scale use by 2020 and deployed on our existing power plants by 2025. As Congress debates climate change legislation, it is essential that the short term targets for carbon dioxide reductions not be implemented before the technology is available to meet them. In other words, let's not put the cart before the horse. Common sense tells us first things first. First develop the technology, then make the reductions.
Quick Facts
- CCS would be commercially deployable by 2025.
- By developing CCS technology, we can help other countries reduce their carbon dioxide emissions in a practical way that will not affect world economies.
- Several CCS projects are currently underway.