Issue Position: Climate Change

Issue Position

Issue Position: Climate Change

Climate change is the top threat to our environment, and it is one that our government has ignored for far too long. As both a superpower and the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, our nation must take responsibility for addressing this challenge. We also need to be a leader in finding clean energy solutions that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, create a new generation of jobs at home, and provide climate and energy security for us and the generations to come.

In 2007, the United Nations hosted an international conference in Bali, Indonesia to discuss worldwide climate change commitments for the future. Although the U.S. agreed to participate in discussions toward a new international agreement, the Bush Administration continues to push a plan that relies on voluntary greenhouse gas reductions and has stymied state and federal emissions reduction efforts. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency recently denied a request by the state of California to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, thereby halting plans in 17 other states to adopt California's stricter vehicle emissions standards.

I agree with most leaders and experts in this field who believe that voluntary measures are not enough to address the problem of climate change. International agreements on mandatory, enforceable caps on greenhouse gas emissions are essential, and the U.S. needs to enact laws - and support state efforts - to meet its obligations in this regard.

In late December, Congress took a significant step forward by approving the Energy Independence and Security Act. The legislation did not go as far as I would have liked in some respects, but it made long overdue improvements to fuel economy standards for vehicles. This change alone will make a reduction in greenhouse gases equivalent to taking 28 million cars and trucks off the road by 2020. Along with other provisions promoting energy efficiency, the bill overall is expected to cut our greenhouse gas emissions by about 25 percent by 2030.

After enacting this important energy bill, the House has begun working on comprehensive global warming legislation. The newly formed Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming continues to highlight the scope of climate change and weigh the possible solutions through public hearings. Meanwhile, the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality is examining various legislative options for a so-called cap-and-trade program, which is the approach I support.

I am a cosponsor of both the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590) and the Climate Stewardship Act (H.R. 620), which would establish a market driven cap-and-trade system for reducing U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases responsible for global warming. These bills would roll back U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 80 percent by mid-century, which is the level of reductions scientists say we need to avoid a dangerous climate tipping point.

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