“Two Degrees” of Separation: President Obama Needs to Outline his Yardstick on Global Warming

by Jake Schmidt

In the midst of the fight of our lives (the House floor debate on the American Clean Energy and Security Act), a coalition ofmajor U.S. groups called for the Obama Administration to outline its "yardstick" on global warming. What is it that this "scientific and pragmatic" Administration will use to measure our efforts to solve global warming pollution -- its yardstick?

Well, the CEOs of 47 U.S. organizations, representing environment, faith, development, and youth groups have an answer. As the letter from these groups to the Obama Administration says:

"We are writing to urge you to work with other world leaders at the upcoming G8 Summit to set a strong science-based goal for reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases aimed at keeping the increase of global average surface temperature, compared to pre-industrial levels, as far below 2 degrees Celsius/3.6 degrees Fahrenheit as possible."

The "two degrees" threshold is an important yardstick. The impacts of global warming will be potentially severe in a number of regions around the world, including the US, if we cross this threshold. Continued...

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