A chance to get it right on global warming
Will Congress do what it takes?
Environment America staff and members are pushing Congress to get it right on global warming. When a global warming bill passes, we want to make sure it sets the right goals, deters polluters, invests in clean energy and gives decision-makers the flexibility they’ll need to strengthen the law as scientists learn more.
On Dec. 5, a key Senate committee passed a global warming bill sponsored by Sens. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and John Warner (Va.). If it passes through Congress, it will be the first national law limiting global warming pollution in the United States.
“We’re glad Congress is finally taking action,” said Anna Aurilio, Environment America’s Washington, D.C., office director. “But we have to get this right. The science demands we go further.”
Ensuring a strong bill
Though the passage of any global warming bill in Congress would be historic, we’re urging members of Congress to pay attention to the details. We worked in the spring to ensure that legislators in both the Senate and House would be prepared to strengthen the bill and fight any weakening amendments. In particular, we encouraged Congress to:
• Deter carbon polluters, not reward them. We advocate a cap-and-auction program that would require carbon emitters to pay for the privilege to pollute. The funds generated would reward clean energy innovators and other projects that would benefit the public.
• Allow decision-makers flexibility to strengthen the law. As scientists learn more over the next few decades, it will likely be necessary to increase the goals for cutting emissions.
• Ensure that anything that happens at the federal level enhances and doesn’t undercut the hard work already done in the states to stop global warming and respects the states’ ability to continue to adopt innovative policies in the future.
As of this spring, 149 members of the House and 19 members of the Senate have agreed to support legislation that embodies our goals.
In Washington, D.C., cherry trees have bloomed early in recent years.
