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| ON THE HILL I Climate Change | ||
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Senate Passes Amendment To Combat Climate Change On Thursday, June 23rd the Senate ended nearly two weeks of debate on H.R. 6, a comprehensive energy bill that President Bush has made a priority of his second term. If passed, as appears likely, H.R. 6 would mark the first energy bill to make it through the Senate in nearly 5 years. The Senate has focused much of its deliberations on the issue of climate change. On June 21 the Senate passed S.A. 817, an amendment sponsored by Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), calling for businesses to voluntarily reduce the carbon-based emissions believed to contribute to global warming. Hagel's amendment authorizes loans and other forms of subsidies to promote new technologies that decrease greenhouse gas emissions, which scientists link to climate change. It also directs the Secretary of Energy to adopt a "national climate change strategy" and authorizes the Secretary of State to aid developing countries in curbing emissions. Hagel’s amendment received strong support, passing 66 to 29, but it was by far the least aggressive of three competing climate change amendments. Earlier in the week Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, rejected a more progressive amendment, proposed by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), which would have imposed mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Senate also rejected, 60 to 38, an amendment offered by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) which would require a more substantial cut in U.S. carbon dioxide output. The McCain-Lieberman amendment, also known as the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, would ensure that emissions levels in 2010 and thereafter would not exceed emissions levels in 2000. One highlight of the Energy Bill is S.A. 791, an amendment sponsored by Senator Bingaman, which legally binds the United States to increase its reliance on renewable sources of energy. The Bingaman amendment requires 10 percent of electricity produced by U.S. utilities be generated from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, or biomass, by 2020. Bingaman also sponsored a resolution which was agreed to by voice vote. The resolution states that it is the Sense of the Senate that Congress should enact a comprehensive national program to curb the effects of climate change. Though non-binding, it is a significant step towards developing a consensus for action among lawmakers. Another non-binding resolution was offered by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) that sought to add language expressing Congressional support for working to negotiate fair and binding international commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The amendment was narrowly defeated, 49 to 46, with 5 members voting not-present. The defeat of the Kerry resolution represents a strong rebuke to the international community, particularly in the wake of the Bush Administration’s withdrawal from the Kyoto accords. And with the G-8 summit slated to begin in early July, it is a message that threatens to further isolate us from our friends working to forge a common agenda on climate change. Several of the provisions of this bill, including the amendments sponsored by Sens. Bingaman and Hagel, represent important steps in the fight to reverse climate change. Citizens for Global Solutions commends the efforts of these and other principled Senators in their efforts to take action now, before it is too late. Unfortunately, these few environmentally friendly measures in the Senate’s version of the energy bill will not be enough to set the U.S. on a responsible course. Since passage is likely the Senate’s bill is headed for collision with an even more nearsighted version passed by the House and supported by the Bush Administration. The House bill emphasizes increasing the supply of carbon-based fuels like oil and gas instead of investing in renewable energies and would make responsible stewardship of the planet even more difficult. Updated June 24, 2005 + TAKE ACTION |
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