LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the United States Congress to cap green-
house gases and pollution levels, reducing them 80% by 2050

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is exceedingly concerned about greenhouse
gas emissions and the impact human activities have on global warming;
and
WHEREAS, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other
scientific bodies have warned that continued, uncontrolled, manmade
emissions of greenhouse gases will cause damage to our public health,
economy, and environment; and
WHEREAS, The 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990;
and
WHEREAS, The planet's mean temperature has risen nearly one degree
Fahrenheit over the past 30 years; and
WHEREAS, Within decades climate change could cause hundreds of
millions of people to suffer water shortages and tens of millions to be
flooded out of their homes annually; and
WHEREAS, Global climate change is likely to result in shifts in agri-
cultural productivity that could threaten local and regional food
supplies; an extreme hydrological cycle resulting in intensified fluctu-
ations in regional precipitation causing weather patterns from flooding
to droughts; severe declines in the biological diversity of our forests,
fisheries, wildlife, and water resources; and
WHEREAS, American entrepreneurs, farmers and manufacturers can lead
the world in developing technologies to generate clean, reliable energy
and use it more efficiently; and
WHEREAS, Alternative forms of energy can create jobs and opportunities
for United States citizens in a global market; and
WHEREAS, The use of advanced energy technologies and energy efficiency
has broad homeland security and economic benefits; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States be and hereby is
respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to urge the United
States Congress to cap greenhouse emissions by 2010, reduce them 20% by
2020 and reduce emissions at least 80% by the year 2050; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That this reduction is not only socially responsible and a
model for other countries around the world to follow, but also an oppor-
tunity to improve the United States economy and quality of life for
United States citizens; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President
Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, and to each member of the New
York State Congressional delegation.