Community Letter Sent To Poland Conference Urges U.S. Climate Action In 2009

Delegates from nearly 190 countries are gathering in Poland until
December 12 to negotiate a pathway out of the climate crisis. The United Nations Climate
Change Conference
in Poznan
is the halfway
mark in the two-year negotiations
to update the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

A community letter signed by nearly 20 organizations was
just shared with United Nations Ministers and Delegates meeting in Poland, and
emphasizes U.S. climate action is a viable goal for 2009. The following are
excerpts from the letter; To view the whole compact and a list of signatories,
please visit NWF’s
Newsroom
.

“As leaders of environmental, conservation, science, health,
and faith organizations based in the United States,
we are writing to urge the nations of the world meeting in Poznan
to build on the decisions in Bali and lay the groundwork for rapid action that
puts us on track to conclude a climate change agreement in Copenhagen next year.  Our organizations are supported by millions
of Americans, and we are committed to putting America on the path to strong
climate action in 2009.

“The American public is committed to action on climate
change and clean energy as never before…A
poll by respected pollster John Zogby
found that a strong majority of
voters in our recent elections believes that action on climate change should be
a high priority for the new Congress and President.  Seventy-eight percent of voters believe that
clean energy should be a cornerstone of our economic recovery plan.

“Our organizations are urging Congress and President-elect
Obama to enact legislation in 2009 that sets mandatory limits on greenhouse gas
emissions that will reduce U.S. emissions consistent with keeping further
warming below 2 degrees Fahrenheit…We are also urging President-elect Obama to
use existing domestic laws, including the Clean Air Act, to set standards on
global warming pollution for power plants, vehicles, and fuels.”

Published: December 9, 2008