A chance to get it right on global warming
Will Congress do what it takes?
This summer, Environment Connecticut staff and members are working with our congressional delegation to push Congress to get it right on global warming by passing a strong bill that sets the right goals, rewards innovators and deters polluters, and gives decision-makers the flexibility they’ll need as scientists learn more.
On Dec. 5, a key Senate committee passed the Lieberman-Warner bill. If it is ultimately enacted, the bill will be the first law limiting global warming pollution in the United States by as much as 18 percent by 2020.
“We’re glad Congress is finally taking action,” said Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut advocate. “But we have to get this right. The science demands we go further.”
Getting a strong global warming bill
Though the passage of any global warming bill in Congress would be historic, we’re urging our members of Congress to pay attention to the details.
We worked in the spring to add strengthening provisions to the global warming legislation. In March, Environment Connecticut staff met with our congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to urge them to support legislation that would:
• Deter carbon polluters, not reward them. We advocate cap-and-trade programs that require carbon emitters to pay for the privilege, with the funds going to reward clean energy innovators.
• Allow decision-makers flexibility. As scientists learn more over the next few decades, it might be necessary to increase the goals for cuts in emissions.
Combining grassroots action at home and the persuasive powers of our advocates in Washington, D.C., we’ve enlisted support for these ideas in Congress. As of this spring, at least 140 members of the House and 20 members of the Senate have agreed to support legislation that embodies our goals. Among them: Reps. Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, John Larson, Chris Murphy and Chris Shays and Sen. Chris Dodd.
Rising sea levels threaten to destroy the fragile wetlands along Long Island Sound.
