Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 2191): Just the Tip of the (Melting) Iceberg
On June 2, 2008, the U.S. Senate will take up for debate S. 2191 – the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. The bill is one of the furthest-reaching pieces of legislation in years, and with the recent Boxer Amendment added after committee hearings, is set to fundamentally alter the way America deals with climate change.
The bill and subsequent amendment establish a national cap to greenhouse gas emissions at the 2012 level with annual reductions to the cap planned through 2050. It’s designed to replace the state and regional systems that have developed in recent years, and will give credit to those who have already entered these systems. The national system will establish a finite number of carbon credits, with some dealt out proportionally to those in the electric power, transportation and manufacturing sectors, and to others available for auction at a price.
The auction of these additional credits is directly tied to funding nearly $1 trillion for various projects, including:
• incentives for energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, technology and manufacturing with recycled materials, and boosting markets for recycling
• research and planning for coastal areas where sea levels may rise
• training and public education for sustainability and conservation
• funding for consumers to offset increases in energy costs
Many groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, have rallied to the bill. Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama all support Lieberman-Warner and it definitely has enough votes lined up to pass (though perhaps not enough to fend off a filibuster). But the question remains: is it too little, too late?
From our perspective, the bill is a great step forward, but a handful of things are missing from even the Boxer Amendment that need to be addressed:
1. Secretary-Level Importance
While the bill creates a series of working groups, involves at least a dozen federal agencies and even gives the President the power to set/adjust the price point and suspend the cap-and-trade program to protect national, energy or economic security for up to six months, it does not create a cabinet-level position. Not only would the program benefit from the centralization of control, but it will also help elevate the importance of the system. And with gas at $4 per gallon, it would be easy for opponents to whip the public into hysteria about the cost implications if there isn’t strong leadership.
2. International Engagement: Ensure It’s Done Right
While Lieberman-Warner does create the structure for alignment with international protocols, there is no strong directive to be an active participant in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations that will take place in Poznan, Poland, this December. That convention will set the direction for the Copenhagen Protocol – the successor to Kyoto. On the plus side, the Boxer Amendment makes it somewhat easier to use international credits from projects in developing countries and from other countries’ cap-and-trade markets. This is a global issue, and there needs to be a global solution.
3. Emphasize Renewables, Don’t Subsidize Coal
Energy-intensive industries are disproportionately reliant on fossil fuels. Groups like the Earth Day Network have called for a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants and no less than 30 percent of the electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. Perhaps one solution is to not “give” any credits to new coal-fired power plants (which would be eligible for an allotment of carbon credits under the existing bill). Also, the “safety valve” mechanism introduced in the Boxer Amendment could keep the price for the carbon offsets artificially low, making it less costly for carbon-intensive industries and energy providers to keep polluting. That’s not the intention of the program.
4. Public Health
Climate change is also a public health issue. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services should play a larger role in studying the public health effects of climate change at home and abroad.
5. Nuclear Should Be On The Table
The submitted bill and amendment downplay its potential role, but nuclear is an option and should be considered. While there are still significant issues with nuclear waste recycling, even environmentalists are giving nuclear a second look.
The vote is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on June 2.
Tags: bill, climate change, Copenhagen Protocol, global warming, green news, Kyoto Protocol, legislation, Lierberman-Warner, nuclear energy, President, public health, renewable energy, UNFCCC
EnviroTweets
June 30th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
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