Contents

1. Summary
2. U.S. Senate: Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act
3. What's Next in the Senate?
4. U.S. House: Waiting for a Climate Bill
5. Connecticut Passes Global Warming Bill

Summary

The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 2191)—a bill with a strong framework for reducing global warming pollution—is swiftly approaching a vote by the full Senate this summer. In anticipation, UCS activists have sent their senators more than 23,000 letters and made nearly 2,000 phone calls over the past few months. In fact, one day a Senate aide remarked, “UCS activists topped our mail count.” This engagement has helped ensure that strong action on global warming remains a top priority for your senators. Although the House has yet to see a similar bill develop, we will continue to educate legislators on the principles of strong climate legislation.

What’s Next in the Senate?

Leading up to the vote this summer, senators will increasingly turn their attention to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. UCS will call on activists to step up their efforts by urging senators to help strengthen the bill and oppose any weakening amendments. Specifically, we’ll ask senators to:

• Require science-based emission reductions of at least 80 percent by 2050 and ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency adjusts this target if the National Academy of Sciences finds that we are not on track to avoid dangerous warming.
• Eliminate or significantly reduce free emission allowances for polluters. Proceeds from auctioned allowances and any free allowances should benefit public programs and promote investment in clean energy technologies.
• Oppose attempts to provide additional subsidies for coal or nuclear power, which already receive substantial benefits under this bill.

U.S. House: Waiting for a Climate Bill

Despite bold predictions by House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership, a climate bill is not likely to reach the president’s desk by the end of the year. Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) has yet to move beyond hearings and policy papers to introduce climate legislation.

UCS will continue to educate House members on the principles of a good global warming bill so that they are prepared to critically evaluate and improve whatever climate legislation is ultimately introduced in Chairman Dingell’s Committee. In the coming months, UCS activists will urge their lawmakers to support these principles for a strong, science-based climate bill that reduces heat-trapping emissions at least 15-20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050 to prevent the worst effects of global warming. 

Connecticut Passes Global Warming Bill

In early May, the Connecticut legislature passed a bill requiring substantial reductions in the state's global warming pollution. The measure would require reductions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050. Many scientists say these reductions must be achieved worldwide to ward off the worst effects of global warming. Findings from the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment, a collaboration between UCS and independent scientists and economists, showed what effects global warming could have in the region and helped to spur action. Governor Jodi Rell is expected to sign the bill into law soon. The law will make Connecticut the fifth state to adopt mandatory reductions of heat-trapping emissions; similar measures have been enacted in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Washington.