Not acting quickly enough

U.S. projects steep rise in CO2 emissions
By 2020, the United States will emit almost one-fifth more gases that lead to global warming than it did in 2000, increasing the risks of drought and scarce water supplies.

That projection comes from an internal draft report from the Bush administration that is more than a year overdue at the United Nations. The Associated Press obtained a copy Saturday.

The draft report, which is still being completed, projects that the current administration’s climate policy would result in the emission of 9.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases in 2020, a 19 percent increase from 7.7 billion tons in 2000.

Our nation needs to act more quickly to stem the tide of global warming. Some actions need to be purely individual- such as finding a way to drive less often and reducing our heating and cooling demands. Some actions will need the support of the federal and state governments, such as providing federal funding to greater amounts of research to develope and implement environmental friendly technologies, and using the tax code to encourage reductions in emissions and to make hybrid vehicles more affordable in the short run (eventually the market will increase supply of these vehicles and reduce prices).

The stakes are high and we've delayed too long. Our moral responsibility is great as the nation the uses greater amounts of energy per capita than any other.

I encourage you to vote your conscience with the environment in mind in all upcoming elections.