WASHINGTON, DC: Environment America commended the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee for passing important global warming legislation, the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007” (S. 2191) last night, but urged the Senate to strengthen the bill to achieve what the science says is needed to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
“Talk is cheap, but today was a day of action,” said Anna Aurilio, Director of Environment America’s Washington, DC office. “Although some would prefer to keep their heads in the sand on global warming, Chairman Boxer has recognized the need for the U.S. to start leading on this critical issue.”
“Still, the science and scope of the problem demand that we go farther,” continued Aurilio, “and we give special praise to the senators who worked to strengthen this bill in committee.”
Environment America specifically thanked Senators Sanders (Vt.), Clinton (N.Y), Cardin (Md.), Lautenberg (N.J.), and Whitehouse (R.I.) for supporting three key strengthening amendments that were not adopted by the full committee.
These amendments would have strengthened S. 2191 by:
- Requiring the U.S. to cut global warming pollution at least 80 percent by 2050—the minimum reductions necessary to avoid global warming’s worst effects.
- Requiring the pollution targets in the bill to be tightened in the future if the science determines that such action is necessary to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
- Limiting the free giveaway of pollution credits to polluters by significantly increasing the portion of pollution credits that are auctioned.
These changes, as well as a downsizing of the offsets provision in order to protect the integrity of the pollution caps in the bill, are changes that Environment America pledged to push for as the bill moves forward in the U.S. Senate.
Environment America expressed thanks to the entire committee for strengthening the Lieberman-Warner legislation in several key ways since its introduction, bringing the bill within reach of achieving what the science says is necessary to address the challenge of global warming. Most importantly, the amended legislation could achieve necessary short-term science-based pollution reduction targets if the integrity of the pollution cap is maintained. Also, given that the international community is looking to the United States for leadership in Bali in tackling global warming, the bill’s progress should send a clear signal worldwide.
“The fact that this bill has already been strengthened as much as it has is a testament to the work of citizens across the country to raise the profile of this issue and demand that Congress take strong action,” said Aurilio. “Environment America intends to continue our work with Congress to strengthen this legislation and address the challenge of global warming.”
