Global Warming by the Numbers - Economic opportunity and a clean energy future

Global warming is the most serious environmental threat of our time.

As these facts show, affordable options are available. And America cannot afford to fall behind any more in the race to invent clean, renewable energy sources.

Increase in world’s solar generating capacity in 2005: 45%

Ranks of global producers of solar cells: Japan 1st, China 2nd, U.S. 4th

Amount US government spends a year on renewable energy research: $1.5 billion

Exxon Mobil’s daily revenue: $1 billion
mount GE Energy Financial Services invested in wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy in 2007: $2 billion

Amount China has committed to invest in renewable energy sources over the next 15 years: $200 billion

Projected cost of smart cap-and-trade climate policy on US economic output in 2030: 0.74%.

Projected growth of the US economy by 2030: 100%

Projected population growth by 2200: 100%

U.S. average annual production of carbon pollutants : 20 Metric Tons per capita

Number of presidential candidates & congressmen who have addressed the effect of population growth on our ability to rein in green house gases: 0

Number of senators supporting cap and trade legislation: 53

Number of bills passed by Congress to cap and reduce America's global warming pollution: 0

Number of bills passed by Congress to reduce legal immigration, stop chain immigration and curb the number of illegal aliens: 0

Sources: World Watch Institute, Earth Policy Institute, Department of Energy, CNN, GE Energy Financial Services, Reuters, Upcoming Report: Climate Policy and the U.S. Economy. Environmental Defense, 2008, UN.