WASHINGTON, DC:
Environment America today commended the Senate Environment & Public Works
Committee for passing important global warming legislation, the
“Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007” (S. 2191), 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 (I-VT), Clinton (D-NY), Cardin (D-MD),
Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Whitehouse (D-RI) 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 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.”
