U.S. Senate Committee Strengthens Lieberman-Warner Bill,
But Science Demands More
PHILADELPHIA, PA: PennEnvironment today commended the U.S. 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 Nathan Willcox,
energy and clean air advocate for PennEnvironment. “Although some would prefer to
keep their heads in the sand on global warming, this committee 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 Willcox, “and we give special praise to the senators who worked to strengthen
this bill in committee.”
PennEnvironment 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. 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 PennEnvironment pledged to push for as the bill moves forward in the U.S. Senate--and encouraged Pennsylvania Senators Specter and Casey to support.
PennEnvironment 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 Pennsylvania and the country to raise the profile of
this issue and demand that Congress take strong action,” said Willcox.
“PennEnvironment intends to continue our work with Pennsylvania's U.S. representatives and senators to strengthen this legislation and
address the challenge of global warming.”
