What the Union of Concerned Scientists is Doing to Help Pass Global Warming Legislation
On November 5, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act was passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Senators Graham (R-SC), Kerry (D-MA), and Lieberman (I-CT) have emerged as leaders in the Senate to get a final climate and energy bill done. These senators are working to address the key issues that will be needed to get the necessary support to bring a comprehensive climate and energy bill for a vote before the full Senate. In addition, other committees may still weigh in on the bill- in particular, the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), is planning to mark up a version of the bill early next year. The passage of the Senate EPW Committee bill comes on the heels of the house passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act in June. Both bills would put in place a nationwide plan to rein in global warming pollution and establish a cleaner approach to our nation's energy system.
Passage of the Senate bill will take us one step closer to final passage of national climate and clean energy legislation, which will help curb global warming while saving consumers money and putting Americans back to work. In addition, it will show the global community that the United States is ready to reduce its own emissions, paving the way for progress at the United Nations climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December.
As the leading science-based organization working for a healthy planet and a safer world, UCS is playing a key role in the congressional debate on climate and clean energy legislation.
Among our activities, we are:
- providing sound scientific information on the impacts of climate change and new developments in climate science to the Obama administration and to House and Senate leaders;
- Providing information to congressional staff to demonstrate the importance of achieving swift and deep emissions reductions, protecting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority from the Clean Air Act, developing more clean energy, ensuring a rapid response to emerging science, and preserving tropical forests;
- helping scientists from around the country communicate effectively with their legislators on the need for immediate, deep cuts in global warming pollution;
- identifying economists from around the country who recognize that the most costly thing we can do is nothing, and engaging them in the federal policy debate;
- mobilizing thousands of activists to make their opinions known to their senators and representatives;
- working at home and abroad to protect tropical forests by raising awareness about the cost-effectiveness of this climate solution; and
- promoting clean energy and vehicle solutions in Congress and through administrative agencies like the EPA.
In July and September of 2009, UCS released a new series of reports on climate impacts in the U.S. Midwest. The Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest series provides an in-depth look at how our actions can help curtail the potential consequences of climate change in that region.
Additionally, UCS recently released a policy brief on the Costs of Inaction. The policy brief underscores the latest climate science and urgent need to take action to reduce heat trapping emissions.
We have a historic, but short, window of opportunity to win adoption this year of policies that will rein in global warming pollution. But we know from experience that real change doesn't just happen and that we cannot underestimate the power of the oil, coal, and auto industries and the legislators who support them. It will take a lot of skillful work to ensure that the important groundwork we have laid together leads to concrete changes that rein in global warming pollution and build a clean energy economy for the United States.
To take advantage of this great opportunity we need to send a strong message to our leaders that they need to take swift and bold action today. You can help by urging Congress to make passage of strong climate legislation a top priority. Click here to send a message today.
If you haven’t already, sign up to receive emails from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Make sure you don’t miss the latest news and ways you can get involved by joining our Action Network.
