Global Warming Reports

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Executive Summary

Global warming poses a serious threat to Wisconsin’s future wellbeing and prosperity. To do its part to avoid the worst impacts of global warming, Wisconsin needs to reduce its global warming pollution 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, setting an example for the rest of the nation to follow.

Thankfully, many technologies and policy tools exist that could substantially reduce Wisconsin’s contribution to global warming, while moving the state toward a clean, secure energy future. Wisconsin has already taken several significant steps to cut its global warming pollution, but vast opportunities to further reduce emissions remain untapped.

This report details 13 policy strategies, in addition to several steps already taken, that would cut Wisconsin’s emissions of carbon dioxide—the leading greenhouse gas—by 30 percent below projected levels by 2020. Adoption of these strategies will put Wisconsin on course to reducing its contribution to global warming in line with what scientists believe will be necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Global warming is happening now and poses a serious threat to Wisconsin’s future.

• Global average temperatures increased by more than 1.4˚ F in the past century. Sea level is rising, ice and snow cover are decreasing, and storm intensity has increased.

• Human activity—particularly the burning of fossil fuels—is the primary cause of global warming. Fossil fuel consumption releases carbon dioxide, which traps radiation from the sun near the earth’s surface. Since 1750, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 35 percent—leaving the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere higher than it has been in the last 650,000 years.

• World average temperatures could increase by another 3 to 7° F above late 20th century levels by the end of this century, depending on future emissions of global warming pollutants. Sea level could rise by between 11 and 17 inches, threatening low lying coastal areas. And the ecological balance upon which life depends could be irrevocably altered.

Immediate action is needed to prevent the worst impacts of global warming.Scientists tell us that if we act quickly and aggressively to reduce global warming emissions there is a much greater chance of staving off the worst impacts of global warming. To keep global temperatures from rising by more than 2.0˚ C (3.6˚ F), the world will need to halt the growth of global warming pollution in this decade, begin reducing emissions soon, and slash emissions by more than half by 2050.

Because the United States is the world’s largest global warming polluter, the degree of emission reductions required here will be greater than in less developed countries. By making a commitment to reducing global warming pollution and setting in motion the changes that will meet that target, Wisconsin can reduce its own signifi cant contribution to global warming while encouraging others to do the same.

Emissions of global warming pollution are on the rise in Wisconsin.

• Between 1990 and 2004, Wisconsin’s emissions of carbon dioxide from energy use increased by 26 percent. Electricity generation and transportation are the biggest sources of carbon dioxide pollution in the state (42 percent and 29 percent, respectively), followed by the direct use of fossil fuels in industry (15 percent), homes (9 percent) and businesses (5 percent). Wisconsin also produces emissions through the consumption of electricity generated in other states.

• Wisconsin is on a path that will lead to significant increases in global warming emissions over the next several decades. According to a projection based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Wisconsin’s emissions of carbon dioxide from energy use could increase by 16 percent over 2004 levels by 2020, with increases in emissions from electricity generation responsible for the bulk of emissions growth.

Wisconsin has already committed to several actions that will curb the growth of carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Over the past several years, Wisconsin has taken important steps to limit global warming emissions from power plants and to boost energy efficiency. Wisconsin’s renewable electricity standard requires that 10 percent of the electricity sold in the state in 2015 come from renewable sources. Energy efficiency programs have helped reduce natural gas and electricity consumption.

Wisconsin Carbon Dioxide Pollution by Sector, 2004

Electricity generation - 42% Transportation - 29% Commercial - 5% Residential - 9% Industrial - 15%

Wisconsin could reduce its contribution to global warming much further by adopting 13 key policy strategies. There are numerous tools available to Wisconsin to reduce global warming pollution. The following policies can help the state reduce carbon dioxide emissions from energy use.

1. Adopt the Clean Cars Program. The Clean Cars Program will impose limits on vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and offer Wisconsinites a greater selection of hybrid-electric vehicles.

2. Require energy-saving replacement tires. By requiring the sale of energy-saving replacement tires, Wisconsin can improve vehicle efficiency without negatively affecting safety.

3. Create mileage-based automobile insurance. Automobile insurers should be required to offer insurance with rates based on the amount traveled. This will reward those who drive less and potentially reduce accidents.

4. Reduce the number of automobile commutes. Large employers should be required to develop programs to discourage single-passenger commuting and provide employees with more transportation choices to cut single-occupant vehicle commutes by 40 percent by 2020.

5. Reduce the growth in vehicle miles traveled. Wisconsin should invest in transit and reduce sprawling development to stop the per capita growth in vehicle miles traveled by cars and light trucks on Wisconsin’s highways.

6. Adopt a low-carbon fuel standard. A portion of motor fuel sold in Wisconsin should come from sources with lower life-cycle emissions than gasoline or diesel to reduce the carbon intensity of the fuel mix by 10 percent by 2020.

7. Strengthen building energy codes. Stronger energy codes for residential and commercial buildings would reduce energy use and thus global warming pollution.

8. Adopt appliance efficiency standards. Wisconsin should adopt energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment.

9. Increase investments in energy efficiency. Investing more in energy efficiency would reduce electricity use by 0.7 percent and natural gas use by 0.4 percent annually.

10. Encourage combined heat and power. Wisconsin has the potential for 1,100 MW more of combined heat and power technology, which allows commercial and industrial facilities to use the same energy to generate both electricity and useful heat.

11. Strengthen the renewable electricity standard. Wisconsin should increase its existing renewable electricity standard to require that 20 percent of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.

12. Prevent expansion of coal-fired power plants. Wisconsin can avoid major projected increases in emissions by preventing the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

13. Reduce government energy use. Wisconsin should increase the energy efficiency of state government buildings, get 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015, and reduce emissions from vehicles by 30 percent.

Adoption of these strategies would reduce global warming pollution while improving Wisconsin’s energy efficiency. By 2020, Wisconsin’s emissions of carbon dioxide would be approximately 30 percent below projected 2020 levels and 23 percent below 2006 levels.

Wisconsin should commit to reducing its emissions of global warming pollutants to levels consistent with those scientists believe are necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change. Specifically, the state should:

• Commit to achieving reductions in global warming emissions of 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Adoption of a strong cap on global warming emissions would ensure that Wisconsin begins to reduce its emissions now.

• Ensure the full implementation of emission-reduction policies already adopted.

• Adopt the 13 additional strategies recommended in this report.

• Take additional actions to reduce global warming pollution, especially in areas not directly addressed in this report, such as emissions from air travel and industrial energy use and emissions of global warming pollutants other than carbon dioxide.