At a summit meeting of Midwest Governors today in Milwaukee, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is joining the governors of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Michigan in committing to regional limits on the pollution that is causing global warming.
Illinois is now at the forefront of states working to solve global warming with smart energy solutions. The Midwest can be a laboratory for the solutions that can save our planet, while creating jobs in a new energy economy, and saving all of us money we currently spend on heat, electricity, and gasoline.
Earlier this year, Blagojevich announced goals for reducing global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020, and 60% below 1990 levels by 2050 - the reductions called for by the scientific community. This year, the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group considered steps for reaching the first milestone, and has recommended a package of clean car and energy measures that would meet the first target while creating new jobs and lowering energy bills.
The good news about global warming is that we know what solutions will work. Being smarter about how we produce and use energy will not only make deep cuts in pollution, it will create new jobs in the industries of the future. We know we can’t wait for the Bush Administration to lead on solving global warming. It’s up to the states to lead America in implementing solutions to this unprecedented problem, and it's great to see Illinois at the head of the pack.
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