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Sierra Club Energy Campaigns
Here is a summary of the Sierra Club's four national global warming and
energy campaigns:
Beyond Coal
Coal provides about half of our electricity and more than 30% of our
global warming pollution. From the mine to the plant, coal is our dirtiest
energy source. It causes asthma and other health problems, destroys our
mountains, and releases toxic mercury into our communities. Continuing
our dependence on coal chains us to dirty energy and prevents us from
making the changes we need to bring about a clean, secure energy future.
- Stop the construction of dirty, new coal plants by educating
investors and decision makers about the economic and environmental risks
of investing in new coal.
- Retire old plants that are the worst contributors to health-harming
soot and smog pollution and replace them with clean energy solutions.
- Work with communities to protect our mountains, lands and waters
by keeping our vast coal reserves in the ground. more
Beyond Coal ...
Curbing Carbon
To avoid climate catastrophe, greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. must
peak in the coming decade, decline steadily, and reach a level close to
zero by mid-century. In addition to reducing our own emissions, the U.S.
should help developing countries cut carbon and protect themselves from
the effects of global warming.
- Working with the next Congress and president to pass federal legislation
that curbs U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, puts a
price on carbon in order to internalize the cost of climate change into
markets and policies, and enhances our use of clean energy sources.
- Creating the domestic conditions needed for the U.S. to lead in negotiating
and implementing an international climate treaty sufficient to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions to levels called for by climate scientists.
more Curbing
Carbon ...
Clean Energy Solutions
Fixing our economy, transforming our energy future, slowing and ultimately
reversing climate change and its consequences will require a clear agenda
and aggressive timetable that will allow us to repower and rebuild America.
- Repowering America with green, renewable energy: Wind, solar,
and other safe, clean sources of power that will energize a new American
century.
- Rebuilding America with high-performance homes and buildings:
Smarter, greener buildings that eliminate global warming emissions,
reduce utility bills, and generate renewable energy.
- Linking it all together with a 21st-century "electranet:"
An energy internet that links homes to a smart grid powered by clean
energy. The electranet can reduce electricity consumption through a
national transmission network that supports large-scale renewable energy
and local energy generation that frees homes and businesses to produce
their own energy. more
Clean Energy Solutions ...
Green Transportation
Transportation contributes approximately one-third of all U.S. carbon
dioxide emissions, and must be a prime target for major greenhouse gas
reductions.
- Clean and efficient vehicles: A fleet-wide new vehicle fuel
economy average of at least 42 miles per gallon by 2020 and at least
50 mpg by 2025, through a combination of state and federal standards
and a shift to vehicle electrification.
- Lower-carbon fuels: Reduce the carbon content of the fuels
used for transportation by 15% below the 2005 level by 2030.
- Expanded transportation choices and increased reliance on transportation
alternatives: Reducing vehicle miles traveled per person by increasing
public transit use, fostering compact communities with transportation
choices (rail, bus, walking, biking), and by cutting the number of car
trips taken. more
Clean Transportation ...
updated 5/25/09
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