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A chance to get it right on global warming
This summer, Environment Iowa staff and members are pushing our congressional delegation to get it right on global warming by passing a strong bill that sets the right goals, rewards innovators and deters polluters, and gives decision-makers the flexibility they’ll need as scientists learn more about global warming.
On Dec. 5, a key Senate committee passed the Lieberman-Warner bill. If it passes, the bill will be the first law limiting global warming pollution in the United States by as much as 18 percent by 2020.
“We’re glad Congress is finally taking action,” said Andrew Hug, Environment Iowa advocate. “But we have to get this right. The science demands that we go further.”
Though the passage of any global warming bill in Congress would be historic, we’re urging our members of Congress to pay attention to the details.
Environment Iowa and other members of our national federation worked in the spring to add strengthening provisions to take those steps. During our March annual citizen lobby day, environmental lobbyists from across the country called on their congressional delegations to support federal legislation that would:
• Deter carbon polluters, not reward them. We advocate cap-and-trade programs that require carbon emitters to pay for the privilege, with the funds going to reward clean energy innovators.
• Allow decision-makers flexibility. As scientists learn more over the next few decades, it might be necessary to adjust the goals for cuts in emissions.
Combining grassroots action at home and the persuasive powers of our advocates in Washington, D.C., we’ve been enlisting support for these ideas in Congress.
As of this spring, at least 150 members of the House of Representatives and 10 members of the Senate have agreed to support legislation that embodies our goals. Among the supporters are Iowa Reps. Bruce Braley, David Loebsack and Leonard Boswell.
Global warming could bring more, heavier rains, with dire consequences for soybean fields.
