Senators Barbara Boxer (CA)
and Bernie Sanders (VT) today will introduce the Global Warming Pollution
Reduction Act, a bill that provides the U.S. a long-term solution to global warming.
“We commend Senators Boxer
and Sanders for introducing this visionary bill to solve one of the greatest
challenges facing the U.S.
and world. This is a comprehensive,
science-based bill that would harness America’s technological know-how to
reduce global warming pollution, while ushering in a new energy future,” said Environment
California Global Warming Advocate Jason Barbose.
Climate scientists warn that
the world faces dire consequences unless we immediately and significantly
reduce emissions of the pollutants that cause global warming.
The Global Warming Pollution
Reduction Act, first introduced last July by now-retired Senator Jim Jeffords (VT),
would reduce U.S.
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. To achieve these emission reductions, the bill
calls for a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy and improved energy
efficiency.
The reductions in the
Sanders-Boxer proposal mirror those that California
has committed to in legislation signed last year – the Global Warming Solutions
Act (AB 32) – and in an executive order issued by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2005.
“California has been a shining example of
fighting global warming with energy efficiency and clean, renewable
energy. Now it’s time for the United States to
do its part to build a cleaner, more sustainable foundation for America’s 21st
century economy,” said Barbose.
In addition to Senators
Sanders and Boxer, the other original cosponsors include Senators Daniel Akaka
(HI), Russ Feingold (WI), Daniel Inouye (HI), Edward Kennedy (MA), Frank
Lautenberg (NJ), Patrick Leahy (VT), Robert Menendez (NJ), Jack Reed (RI), and
Sheldon Whitehouse (RI).
