December 10, 2003
New York Public Interest Research Group
Environmental Advocates of New York
National Environmental Trust

US & NY Leading in Global Warming Pollution
DC is Lacking in Solutions, Groups Look to New York for Answers

Albany, NY – A new report by the National Environmental Trust shows that many individual U.S. states emit more global warming pollution than entire groups of developing countries.

“This report demonstrates how critical it is for immediate action to stop global warming,” said Rhonda Belluso, Hudson Valley Environmental Advocate for NYPIRG, “New York independently and the nation as a whole are major polluters, so we should be acting on every reasonable solution. Unfortunately, that’s not the case now.”

In 2001, President Bush pulled the United States out of the Kyoto Protocol and broke his only specific campaign promise on the environment: to clean up global warming pollution from power plants. The Administration’s energy plan is heavily reliant on oil, coal and gas and does little to promote alternative energy.

In 2003, Governor Pataki heard from his Greenhouse Gas Task Force, which found that New York could cap carbon dioxide, the predominant global warming pollutant, from power plants at 25% below 1990 levels with virtual no cost to consumers.

First in Emissions, Behind in Solutions shows that the U.S. has been and continues to be the largest emitter of global warming pollutants. 42 of the 50 U.S. states individually emit more global warming pollution than 50 developing countries, and five states separately emit more than 100 developing countries.

• New York ranks 8th in the U.S. for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions.
• There are 99 developing countries with summed GHG Emissions less than or equal to New York.
• New York’s population is over 19 million, and the population of the developing countries is over 680 million.

Other data shows that New York is also the 16th largest emitter worldwide.

“This report reinforces that New York alone has a real impact on global climate. It's time for the state to take responsibility for its emissions; Governor Pataki should start by capping carbon dioxide pollution from power plants." Christine Vanderlan, energy program associate with Environmental Advocates of New York.

In June 2001, Governor Pataki promised to be a leader to reduce emissions for New Yorkers. Upon receiving the task force’s report, the governor suggested a regional cap, postponing action.

Governor Pataki has left New York with a lot of talk, and a lot of pollution. New York can make a difference today, without hurting consumers.” concluded Belluso.

For a copy of this report, please see: www.net.org/reports/globalwarming/emissionsreport.pdf