Our Work

Over the next five years, our goal is to persuade the United States to join with other developed nations in setting mandatory controls on greenhouse gas emissions.

Improving Public Policy

Global warming is the foremost environmental challenge of the 21st century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world's most authoritative scientific voice on the issue, reported in early 2007 that it is virtually certain that human actions are largely responsible for most of the warming observed over the past century; that the problem is far worse than previously predicted; and that the warming trend has had discernible impacts on many of Earth’s physical and biological systems.

The potential impact of projected temperature rise is staggering. Although the precise effects of rapid climate change are difficult to predict, most scientists agree that they are likely to be severe. Millions of people could be affected by the spread of infectious diseases, increased mortality from heat waves, and disruption to food and water supplies. Public health impacts are likely to be exacerbated by property destruction and displacement caused by flooding, droughts, fires and storms. Countless species of animals and plants could suffer. Many could become extinct as forests are lost and wetlands and coral reefs are damaged by rising sea levels and temperatures. Other ecosystems that host much of the world's biodiversity would also be unable to adapt.

Over the next five years, the overarching goal of the Pew Environment Group's climate work is to persuade the United States to join with other developed nations in setting mandatory controls on greenhouse gas emissions by accomplishing the following objectives:

The Pew Environment Group achieved its third objective with passage of the 2007 energy bill. This will raise fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks to 35 mpg by 2020, reduce U.S. oil dependence, save consumers billions of dollars, and lower global warming pollution more than 200 million tons per year.