azimagery AZ Bike & Peace: 21st century will be a clean energy century

Saturday, December 19, 2009

21st century will be a clean energy century

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/18/as_copenhagen_summit_closes_obama_maintains

Dear Friend,

Moments ago, President Obama reached an agreement with world leaders at the climate conference in Copenhagen to limit global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius and to require countries to list their national actions and commitments to achieving emission reduction goals.

EDF President Fred Krupp issued the following statement in response:

Today's agreement leaves the U.S. in control of its own destiny. We have always known that the path to a clean energy economy goes through Washington, D.C. As President Obama said today, strong action on climate change is in America's national interest.

It's the Senate's turn to speak next. Whether we move ahead with a common-sense plan to create new manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and reduce dependence on foreign oil is not up to other countries; it's up to us. A year from now we can be further ahead or further behind, and the Senate will make the difference.

Today's agreement takes the first important steps toward true transparency and accountability in an international climate agreement. The sooner the U.S. speaks through Senate legislation, the sooner we can set the terms of engagement for talks to come.

There is much work to be done. But, if it wasn't already clear, it is now: The 21st century will be a clean energy century.

The question before us is what role will America play in developing the technologies and clean energy solutions in the coming decades?

It's up to us to urge our Senators to follow the leadership of President Obama and seize this opportunity to cap our carbon emissions, create millions of jobs and unleash our clean energy future.

You can do two things right now to help:

Go to our Operation: Climate Vote hub page to find various ways to take action.
Make a Year-End donation to help give us the resources we'll need to continue the fight in Washington and get us over the goal line.

Thanks for your activism and support,
Environmental Defense Fund