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Watch this space
A hotly contested environmental bill on climate change, proposed by Henry Waxman (D-California, 30th district covering much of LA) and Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts, 7th district), could go to vote as early as Friday the 26th. The Waxman-Markey bill that could set up a carbon cap-and-trade system in the US, meant to cut pollution and boost incentive in the burgeoning green economy.
Given the importance of the bill, opposing sides have taken their arguments to the extreme both pro and con. Those who are strong proponents of a cap-and-trade system see it as a necessity to prevent pollution, that left unchecked, will lead to human extinction. To big business the legislation will create a system that will lead to economic devastation for America. Emotion is clouding the debate, leading to statements like these that espouse doomsday scenarios.
The fate of the bill is still up in the air with an estimated 82 “fence sitters” in the House of Representatives not making clear their intentions on the bill. The divide is along party and geographic lines with Democrats in the Northeast and most of the West supporting the bill. Southern Republicans and some GOP members from California want to kill the bill or water it down as to render it useless.
The partisanship on the issue of global warming is exposed on the stances taken on this bill. Despite overwhelming scientific opinion, research and data, many Republicans refuse to believe that global warming exists. Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner called climate change “comical” in an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News. Whether this disbelief in science is genuine or is influenced by external forces like political backing by the coal and oil industries is debatable.
The rest of the world has come to accept the threat posed by global warming and has already passed legislation in an effort to stem the rise of the world’s temperature and sea level. Overseen in the American political debate is that Europe has had a cap and trade system since January of 2005. While some argue that the legislation is imperfect due to the amount of carbon credits given away for free, it was a trailblazing piece of legislation that US lawmakers could use as a baseline and improve upon. Logic dictates that the lawmakers should use the ideas that have worked in the European Union carbon trading scheme over the past four years and make changes to improve on the imperfections.
Once again Congress is behind the curve when it comes to legislation that would spur the growth of the clean energy sector, green architecture market and renew the stewardship of the environment. If the bill does not pass the US will stumble further behind in the renewable energy field. Just as bad (if not worse) would be a watered down bill. This scenario offers no substantial restrictions on polluters, hence no incentive for investing in new energy markets that will create green collar jobs and reduce pollution levels.
The success or failure of Waxman-Markey will have huge implications for the energy sector.
Comments
Why is it that many in the media and bloggers still insist that "there is overwhelming scientific evidence" for global warming, when most in the science community do not.
Yes, the political world, and the media HAVE accepted global warming. The scientific community however, is a whole other story, and since 2008 has been shifting in the other direction.
It is now arguably a 50/50 split, and will soon favor those who do not buy in to global warming.
With scientific data growing in opposition to global warming, it is absurd to pass legislation that WILL devastate the economy.
It is almost as though we are determined to throw ourselves into a depression.
I agree with Hiram. The science is not settled as there is a lot of contention in fledgling climate science. The on-going debate is necessary to establish exactly what is happening, however, with such large holes in our understanding, moving to legislation at this time is akin to running into the last Iraq war.
Yes, as a scientist with several decades of earth's climate research under my belt, I can state definitively that the science is not settled and the preponderance of scientific evidence through the last few hundred million years shows CO2 (human or otherwise) to be a minor driver of earth's climate. Add to that the fact that human CO2 is a tiny part of all natural CO2 sources and it renders the AGW hypothesis junk science at best.
Please throw out this Bill. It is just more tax, and as a taxpayer it is silly to think that more taxation will only sink our country into the great depths of more angst.
This is exactly the type of mis-information and deceit that the politicians espouse.
First, you should read the peer reviewed paper which challenges every assertion that CO2 levels are a leading cause of global temperature increases. In fact, they are a following indicator (http : // www . petitionproject . org/)
Second you should review the documents showing that the EPA is failing to investigate evidence brought forward by their own employees which dispute CO2 caused global warming: http : // cei . org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Endangerment%20Comments%206-23-09 . pdf
Lastly, you say that the rest of the world has accepted Global Warming and is acting. What about China and India, the two largest producers of CO2, who have not acted and will refuse to do so. The US is already economically uncompetitive with these countries, Cap and Trade will only make it worse, they China and India will not be participating.
Oh my gawd!! What is happening to this country? No No No to Waxman-Markey!
What is not to like in cleaner energy sources? Better air to breathe, less mercury in our waters and fish, more secure local power generation, more secure distributed power generation, less dependence on foreign energy sources, better balance of payments,...??? Entirely apart from the debate on climate change, we are on the downside of fossil fuel supply and need to get on with the next generation of energy supply. Fossil fuel prices are going nowhere but up, renewable energy prices are going nowhere but down, and we can be an economic leader on this or... stuck with an energy industry that mirrors our reluctant-to-change, bankrupt auto industry.
@ Hiram, Why do all sceptics keep stating the scientic problem wrongly.
The Climate change is denied by nobody! You can measure it. You can see it in graphs. Look at glaciers and antartica. The discussion is not about that.
The disagreement is: If the Human emmissions are the reason of this climate change and does the reduction of theses emmissions is going to do any good.
Depression is a perfect tool to stop rediculous overconsumption and learn people again how to take care of themselves (cooking, not buying new clothing every week or new cars every two years).
Dick Hassels... Really?!!
We are now in the 12th straight year of record cool temperatures worldwide. ice fields in both the South and the North are seeing record increases in thickness. Last year, many portions of Canada and Alaska didn't even see summer due to the cool temperatures.
Last June we saw snow in England, Florida, Las Vegas, and even San Diego. This June we saw record cool temperatures all across the Western United States.
This year we had the latest named storm since we began naming them.
Ahh but, shhh, don't tell anyone. because that would undermine those who drink the coolaid.
Dick, the facts are what they are. You can drink the coolaid, or you can research what is really happening.
Jerry McIntire: I agree wholeheartedly. Clean energy is a good thing. These improvements are absolutely to be desired, and pursued.
However, you miss the point. It is absurd to completely shut down our economy in order to achieve technology, based on fear tactics.
Let's pursue these technologies with as much energy as we can muster. Let's use the same focus that we did in the Apollo Program.
But let's not use distortions, and fear mongering. Let's not destroy jobs, and valid industries.
Let's use common sense. The ends never justify the means.
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