Tuesday
Jun172008
Supporters say clean up U.S.’s act with “Climate MATTERS Act”
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 1:46PM
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and other supporters of the “Climate MATTERS Act” held a news conference to discuss the ways in which the bill would fight global warming while contributing to the economy at the same time.
The bill emphasizes the combination of marketplace and science to address global warming, which would provide economic opportunities like “green jobs”, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). According to Mark Heesen, president of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), venture capitalists invested over $2.2 billion into more than 200 clean technology deals in 2007. 1,700 scientists are calling for an 80 percent reduction in global warming pollution by mid-century, said Lexi Shultz, deputy director of the Climate Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
According to Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), the number of miles driven by Americans is increasing 3 times faster than population. The bill would help reduce high gas prices by investing in alternative fuels, said Rep. Doggett. Currently, the transportation sector accounts for one-third of the global warming pollution, according to Colin Peppard, transportation analyst for Friends of the Earth. With only 5 percent of Americans having access to rail transportation, it is important that alternatives be considered, Peppard said.
Rep. Van Hollen said that this bill is important because it will help revamp the relationship between the U.S. and international community, which was hurt when Bush rejected the Kyoto Protocol. The bill contains strong provisions for implementing a cap-and-trade program, especially when it comes to auctioning pollution allowances, Rep. Doggett said. According to a press release from the Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, Environmental Defense Fund, and other environmental groups, auctioning allowances can “give polluters strong financial incentive to innovate, deploy clean technology, and achieve deep pollution reductions.”
Rep. Blumenauer said that the next 6 months will determine the public outset for solving the global warming problem.
The bill emphasizes the combination of marketplace and science to address global warming, which would provide economic opportunities like “green jobs”, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). According to Mark Heesen, president of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), venture capitalists invested over $2.2 billion into more than 200 clean technology deals in 2007. 1,700 scientists are calling for an 80 percent reduction in global warming pollution by mid-century, said Lexi Shultz, deputy director of the Climate Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
According to Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), the number of miles driven by Americans is increasing 3 times faster than population. The bill would help reduce high gas prices by investing in alternative fuels, said Rep. Doggett. Currently, the transportation sector accounts for one-third of the global warming pollution, according to Colin Peppard, transportation analyst for Friends of the Earth. With only 5 percent of Americans having access to rail transportation, it is important that alternatives be considered, Peppard said.
Rep. Van Hollen said that this bill is important because it will help revamp the relationship between the U.S. and international community, which was hurt when Bush rejected the Kyoto Protocol. The bill contains strong provisions for implementing a cap-and-trade program, especially when it comes to auctioning pollution allowances, Rep. Doggett said. According to a press release from the Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, Environmental Defense Fund, and other environmental groups, auctioning allowances can “give polluters strong financial incentive to innovate, deploy clean technology, and achieve deep pollution reductions.”
Rep. Blumenauer said that the next 6 months will determine the public outset for solving the global warming problem.
World Needs A Commitment From U.S. On Climate Change
In Barcelona, policy makers are awaiting a commitment from the U.S. to cut greenhouse gas emissions during preliminary agreements being made ahead of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen next month.
Nick Mabey, CEO of E3G, a nonprofit think tank that promotes green solutions, said Monday that key players have began to advocate ambitious commitments, noting that China and India have discussed lofty international abatement commitments. Mabey said that all that remains is a commitment from the U.S to reduce emissions.
“With the major countries moving on finance and on commitment, this really sets up for the EU-US summit...to see the U.S. come forward and make a very positive statement about its intentions,” Mabey said during a conference call hosted by the U.S. Climate Action Network.
The U.S., which is the second largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world - China is the largest - has yet to commit to a goal to reduce emissions by 2020. This has made it difficult to gain commitments from other developing countries. In contrast the European Union has vowed to cut 1990-level emissions by 20 percent in the next decade.
“The principle for supporting developing countries is committing to finance, as Europe has, and a strong agreement that we can build on in the future,” Mabey said. “This is really an important time where U.S. leadership has to come to the full.”
The current preliminary discussions taking place in Barcelona represent the final negotiating sessions before the United Nations meets in Copenhagen on Dec. 6 for the EU-US climate conference. There, 190 nations will draft an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.