FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  
Tuesday, September19, 2006                   

Contact:
Micah Walker Parkin (504) 258-1247

400 Groups Join Nationwide Call for Action on Global Warming
Hundreds of Organizations Call for Quick, Meaningful Federal Action

New Orleans, LA - Over 400 groups from around the nation, including Louisiana, have come together today to call for a federal limit on global warming pollution that guarantees pollution reductions from today's levels and promotes clean and efficient energy sources.  The release of the Citizen's Climate Policy Statement of Principles comes as Congress returns to Washington, home from a summer vacation during which much of the nation suffered a dizzying heat wave and wildfires tore through western forests and towns.

"The most recent scientific studies prove that global warming is here now and is already causing environmental changes that will have significant economic and social impacts," said Micah Walker Parkin of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a New Orleans based nonprofit organization.  "The good news is that if we act now, and act decisively, we can stop the worst effects of global warming."

16 local leaders and organizations have signed onto the Statement of Principles, including the New Orleans City Council, Alliance for Affordable Energy, Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Global Green New Orleans, New Orleans Mayor's Office of Environmental Affairs, Gulf Restoration Network, Holy Cross Neighborhood Assn., Laid Back Tours, League of Women Voters of St. Tammany, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Louisiana Environmental Action Network, Project REACH of the United Methodist Church, Republicans for Environmental Protection, Save Our Wetlands Inc., and Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research.  State and local groups illustrated the broad base of support for power plant clean up with endorsements from people of faith, small businesses, coastal restoration groups, elected officials, educators and many others.  Over 400 national organizations, such as the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation also signed on.

"It is clear that global warming is already changing the world around us and costing Americans in terms of health and money," said Reverend Cory Sparks, with Project REACH of the United Methodist Church. "Hurricanes, heat waves and wildfires - all of which are worsened by the warming of the planet - have forced Americans to realize that global warming is an urgent problem that has serious consequences if unaddressed.

The statement sets out basic principles for global warming policy that stop the worst effects of global warming. These include beginning in the next ten years to reduce global warming pollution, ensuring reductions of 60-80% by 2050 and promotion of clean and efficient energy sources to meet demand reliably and affordably. The growing evidence of harm to public health, our economy and our environment, as well as common sense, demands that a global warming policy be based on the most up-to-date and accurate science says is needed, Alliance members told Louisiana Senators' staff in meetings at our nation's capital last Thursday.

"It is time to use America's technological know-how to reduce pollution and build a stronger economy by leading the world in the creation of new, clean energy," said Parkin. "But without a clear federal policy, we just won't see the aggressive innovation and investment in new technology and clean energy that we need."

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To download the complete list of groups that have endorsed the statement of principles, click on the link under Related Documents below. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file.

Related Documents
Complete list of groups: www.cleartheair.org/principles