Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, in an effort to find more solid ground for next week’s meetings between world leaders next week, a new climate bill has been proposed by three Senators from different sides of the aisle which would cut carbon emissions by 17% by the year 2020. This is a lower reduction than the 20% which was introduced in the initial Senate climate bill.
The proposal, which was introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), would match closely to the climate change bill passed by the House this past summer, although the emission cuts are 3% less than proposed in the House bill. However, it would be within the range which President Barack Obama has announced that he will be working towards in his meetings in Copenhagen next week.
The bill would push for reductions in carbon emissions through creating incentives in nuclear energy development, offshore drilling, and low emission coal technology. In addition there is talk of a scaled down cap-and-trade system on carbon emissions, though Senator Lieberman remarked, “That is going to be a very active area of negotiation.”
Kerry stated that concerning the addressing of climate change, “The U.S. Senate is committed to addressing this challenge.” Furthermore, he said, “This week, in the EPA’s endangerment finding, the Obama administration sent a clear message about the serious threat climate change poses to public health. They also sent a crystal-clear message to Congress: Get moving.”
Graham, who has been the only Republican thus far to work on a climate resolution, said, “I believe our collaboration has presented the best opportunity for our nation to become energy independent since I’ve been in Congress.” He added, “I believe the green economy is coming. It’s not a question of if it’s going to happen; it’s when it’s going to happen.”
In a letter sent to President Obama on Thursday, the Senators wrote, “As you depart for Copenhagen, we wanted to provide an assessment of where we see the debate heading in the United States Senate.”
The letter also provided a summary of the key points of the planned bill. Many of the details, however, must still be resolved in committee. Senator Kerry stated, “We don't want to jump ahead of the committee process.”
A press release from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stated, “Senators Kerry, Lieberman and Graham took another significant step in the effort to pass comprehensive energy reform with the release of their legislative framework.” The statement also remarked, “The President looks forward to working with the Senate and signing comprehensive energy and climate legislation as soon as possible.”
Following is the framework document for the new climate change bill which was released on Thursday by Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman:
Copyright © 2009 by Raymond Gellner
Comments
This "green economy" is a truly sick joke.
Wonder who the politicians think they will rob once all of us "little people" are broke and starving?
ANY agreement made in CO2enhagen MUST be ratified by the Senate or it is unconstitutional.
If CO2 production was really an issue, why are they trying to legalize and license it as a commodity? If you were actually worried about the environment (not saying you should be worried), you would want to criminalize it. Start throwing millionaires and billionaires in jail and I bet you would gain some attention.
No, I think Americans and the rest of the world is waking up to the fact that this is a scam and just one more tool for globalization.
Gore said yesterday that the core of the Earth about 10 km down is 2 MILLION degrees. Really Father Al? 2 MILLION? As hot as the surface of the Sun? Really?
What are we to make of his OTHER theories and data?
Even a commitment of a 1% reduction means our lives have to be monitored and regulated. Such as RF trackers on our cars, licenses to emit CO2 sold at auctions favoring big business. I love the idea they have now at Copenhagen for global banks to issue people of the world carbon credit cards which are used in conjunction with the tracking of every purchase. Even if the Earth wasn't cooling now which it is, and their scenario was correct, we would have to halt all industry and return to the stone age to even make a dent. And history shows times like the Medieval Warm Period, in which it was warmer than today, people thrived as opposed to cool periods where crops failed and disease spread.
The dems are immune to truth and facts. This has nothing to do with a warming planet anyways so sometimes there is no need to argue the specifics of warming since warming is merely a side show compared to more government power and increased taxes. Dems just love to tell people how they can live, it makes them feel important. God knows they have no skills other than getting elected so they need to feel good some how right?
Co2 keeps going up and temperatures have been going down for over a decade. How much proof do the Dems needs before they accept that CO2 is not warming the planet. Once CO2 is disproved they will move to cow farts. From Cow farts they will move to Coke and pepsi products.
Any news on Climate Gate Ray?
Any news on Honduras Ray?
Any news on ACORN Ray?
How can this POSSIBLY be accomplished without our living standard going back to the 1800's?
"The draft accord said all countries together should reduce emissions by 50 percent to 95 percent by 2050, and rich countries should cut emissions by 25 percent to 40 percent by 2020, in both cases using 1990 as the baseline year."
95% reduction? How in the hell is that possible?
Leave the science to the scientists. NOAA and NASA have made it very clear over the last 50 years that the earth is warming and it is because of humans. Just because your house is not on fire yet does not mean the earth is not warming. How much more data do you morons have to see. The emissions have to be capped and then reduced. All those who think we go back to horse carts, have you not heard of something called innovation. We have to innovate to get over our addiction to oil and coal. All those who think we cannot find an alternative to oil in 100 years either work for an oil company or are just a bunch of losers.
Someone has to pay for the pollution of last 150 years. Just because we dont see what goes up into the sky does not mean it does not exist. 1 ton of CO2 is just that - 1 ton of CO2. Put on the ground it looks like tar, kinda slimy, flows in all directions. We emit 44 billion tons of that stuff every year. We have been doing it for 150 years. Time to clean it up boys. Else say goodbye to everythig you love.
Talk about crazy comments.
We exhale Co2 you idiot. I have not seen anyone exhaling tar lately. Co2 also makes up only a fraction of 1% of your atmosphere. 44 billion sounds like a lot but it is not even a drop in the bucket. You just have no clue about how big our atmposphere really is. A little warming will actually be a good thing BTW.
The problem Mr green is that we have not seen the data. Places like the CRU and GISS do not want to share their data. If I realy thought that the world would end due to Co2 I would be sharing my data with everyone and not hiding behind the freedom of information act.
There is global warming but it is probably a natural cycle. Trying to pin the warming on Co2 is just a pipe dream and the scientists have not proven a strong link between rising temps and Co2. If anything the link has been dis-proven due to the last 11 years of cooling temps with rising co2.
The wheels have fallen of Man Made Global Warming, you refuse to accept it.
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