Global Warming Legislative Priorities for 2009
Create a Well-Designed Cap-and-Trade Program to Fight Global Warming – The U.S. should enact a cap-and-trade program that would set a tight limit on global warming emissions and charge a price for the release of heat trapping emissions. Auctioning the pollution permits will raise money for investments in efficiency and clean energy solutions, protection of consumers, workers and communities and help for vulnerable people and natural resources to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of climate change. A carbon price will also drive private investments in clean energy and create millions of new jobs.
Establish Strong Emissions Reduction Targets – A recent UCS report, Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, shows that, to have a 50/50 chance of preventing additional irreversible consequences of climate change, the United States must cut its heat-trapping emissions on the order of 20 percent below today’s levels by 2020 and at least 80 percent by 2050, even when assuming aggressive action by developing countries and other industrialized nations. UCS calls on Congress to pass legislation that ensures these levels of pollution cuts.
Ensure Climate Legislation Responds to Emerging Science – Federal legislation must ensure that the administration and Congress react rapidly if scientific reviews by the National Academy of Sciences show the U.S. must do more to help avert the worst effects of climate change. Establishing such a rapid response mechanism is critical to effectively achieving the goals of science-based emissions reduction targets.
Promote Clean Technology Solutions – We need to build a clean energy future that will break our dependence on oil, create millions of new jobs, and cut global warming pollution. UCS urges the new administration and Congress to work together to produce a comprehensive plan that, in addition to creating strong cap-and-trade legislation, will:
- Move us to 100 percent clean electricity – Generate power from clean sources such as wind and solar and reduce electricity demand with energy efficient buildings and homes.
- Cut our dependence on oil in half – Improve vehicle efficiency; use electricity instead of oil to power our cars; and invest in public transportation.
- Create 5 million new clean energy jobs – Invest in clean energy technologies and infrastructure that will require new engineers as well as factory, construction, and administrative workers.
Restore a National Assessment of Global Change Impacts – Since the publication of the U.S. National Assessment in 2001, the federal government has not systematically provided updated information on the risk of climate change and its effects in the U.S. UCS has stepped in to help fill the gap by publishing a series of reports on the consequences of global warming on regions of the country. It is time for the federal government to meet the need for similar information across the nation. We need legislation that will require the federal government to conduct an ongoing assessment of the effects of global warming in the U.S., possible mitigation options, and opportunities to adapt to changes that are now unavoidable.
Re-Engage in International Climate Negotiations – Given that the United States is the world’s top emitter, the U.S. must also be a leader in reducing its own emissions and participate productively in international negotiations aimed at producing agreement on a comprehensive new post-2012 climate treaty regime. The U.S. must also help to provide developing nations with the technological assistance and funding that will be needed for those countries to do their part.
