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.”
