Thank you for contacting me regarding global climate change and proposals to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. I appreciate hearing from you on this critically important matter.
In my view, there is no more pressing issue facing our nation and the world than climate change. The science surrounding climate change is now indisputable. As you may know, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international panel composed of hundreds of the most respected scientists in the world, released a comprehensive study of available climate change data in 2007. They concluded that most of the increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is due to human activity. I believe that we can, and must, act aggressively to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In an attempt to comprehensively tackle the myriad economic, environmental, public health, and national security challenges posed by climate change, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, H.R. 2454, on June 26, 2009. This legislation would institute a declining cap on greenhouse gas pollution starting in 2012 and create a new carbon market through which companies could trade GHG emissions allowances. Importantly, it would create new incentives to spur the production and use of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies and would establish a Renewable Electricity Standard requiring retail electricity suppliers to meet twenty percent of their electricity demand through renewable sources by 2020. Finally, this bill would protect low-income consumers from high energy prices and help states adapt to the effects of climate change. You may be interested to know that during the 110th Congress, I supported several similar measures that would have established a cap and trade system across various sectors of our economy.
I understand the concerns raised by some about the possible costs associated with the American Clean Energy and Security Act and other measures that seek to reduce GHG emissions. However, I firmly believe that failure to quickly and comprehensively address the wide array of threats posed by climate change will ultimately prove far more costly to all Americans. Nowhere are the costs of inaction on climate change more evident than in the serious challenges caused by our nation's continued reliance on foreign fossil fuels. The significant fluctuations in oil and gasoline prices that we have seen over the last few years have negatively affected American consumers, farmers, and businesses alike, and have highlighted the economic necessity of moving our country towards cleaner, renewable forms of energy. By investing in clean energy and energy-efficient technologies, I strongly believe that, far from hurting our economy, we will in fact spur long-term economic growth and create tens of thousands of well-paying green collar jobs here at home. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as Congress continues its work to address the issue of global climate change and reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels.
Thank you again for contacting me. If you would like to stay in touch with me on this and other issues of importance, please visit my website at http://dodd.senate.gov and subscribe to receive my regular e-mail issue alerts. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I may be of assistance to you in any way.
Sincerely,
CHRISTOPHER J.DODD
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