Investors demand tougher US climate legislation

An influential coalition of investors? Investor's in what? Maybe the world's overall condition would improve if the planet did away with corporations and investing all together. Find a way to success that does not involve hurting the planet and it's inhabitant's. Can't do that? leave the planet.

And since noone has asked this question I will: where will Obama, Clinton, and McCain be while this important bill is being debated? The primaries are over... they should be in Washington Dc trying to make this bill stronger if they care about this planet. They are all still Senators, aren't they?

Received from Earthjustice:

Dear Jan,

The impacts of climate change are becoming more visible with each passing month. America must take full responsibility for our contribution to global warming... and take real steps to reduce it.

This week, the U.S. Senate is debating the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. While far from being a complete solution, it's a welcome sign that Congress is ready to take action. If strengthened, this bill has the potential to curb global warming and create a new clean energy economy for our future.

Tell your Senators to support strong global warming legislation.

A Chance for Real Progress on Global Warming

As debate on the Lieberman-Warner bill progresses, Senators will have the chance to support strengthening amendments that can have a real impact on America's contribution to global warming.

These amendments include:

Ensuring that emission reduction goals are kept on track based on periodic science reviews

Increasing funding for the development and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy

Reducing or eliminating subsidies for the coal industry and other polluters

Setting a goal of an 80% reduction in our global warming pollution by 2050

Fighting Efforts to Weaken the Bill

While we're confident that many members of the Senate will be working in good faith to strengthen this legislation, the allies of polluting industries will be offering amendments that would undercut the bill. The Senate must reject these efforts to weaken the bill. Senators must:

Fight attempts to add subsidies for coal and other polluting industries

Keep last year's landmark Supreme Court ruling on global warming intact

Preserve the ability of individual states to take action on global warming

Ensure that the bill's emission reduction goals stay on track

Now is the time to tell the Senate to strengthen and pass comprehensive legislation to combat global warming and guide the U.S. to a clean energy economy.

Join Earthjustice and Take Action Today!

Received from Union of Concerned Scientists:

Dear Jan,

This week, as the U.S. Senate finally begins debate on comprehensive global warming legislation, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a landmark statement, signed by more than 1,700 prominent U.S. scientists and economists that calls for swift and deep reductions in our nation’s global warming pollution.

The Senate bill currently under consideration includes a strong framework for reducing the pollution that causes global warming. However, the bill needs improvements to ensure it will reduce our oil dependence, promote clean energy, and avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Please urge your senators to support amendments that strengthen the bill and oppose attempts to weaken it.

Sincerely,

Kate Abend
National Field Organizer
UCS Climate Program

~~~~~~
We don't have to settle.

And who enforces that?

there's actually a website where you can purchase emission reduction credits (erc). erc's are given out to companies basically telling them how much they can pollute. however, the general public can buy these ercs from this website http://www.cleanairconservancy.org/purchase.php
the website then retires them instead of handing them out for use. it's a pretty inexpensive way to do your part.

Well, that's good. I'll check that out.

Yes well, this bill's specifics in corrolation to any global treaty to be signed hopefully next year would have to be considered as well.The U.S. and China are the two countries emitting the most greenhouse gases, so I believe China and the US should work together to bring solar and other alternate energies to market. It absolutely boggles my mind that China can continue to put coal plants on line every week seeing the devastation it is doing to the health of their people and their country... however, we go back again to greed and that coal is abundant in China as it is here and cheap. So once you make solar abundant and cheap you have competition (which is what I thought capitalism was about,) and that is what needs to take place in the marketplace, and that is where we need legislation that will address this energy equality instead of constantly giving subsidies to the same coal and nuclear lobbies to shun out other sources. Throwing a bone here and there is not going to do it, which is why this bill needs more teeth regarding alternate energy sources.

I am disappointed that it is so late in coming. Al Gore stood up thirty years ago in the Senate during hearings when he brought Roger Revelle there to testity about Co2 and temperature change and to warn them of what was to come. But it wasn't lucrative or politically expedient enough for them to care. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only language they know. And of course, this won't become law this year regardless of what is passed this year anyway. So in that case I would rather see it scapped and work to make a better one after Bush leaves than to try to push this nuclear and coal mealticket bill through and stick us and our children with nothing better. But then, I'm not in Congress so what do I know. This is politics, so we probably won't get anything better.

Jan Gore sent a letter to Boxer saying that the bill should be passed, she read it on the Senate floor yesterday.

Carolyn: I just hope that at least some people called the number and talked to their Senators. It may sound corny to some, but this is about our children. When the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act were passed in response to the environmental movement of the seventies they were milestones in preserving this planet and sustaining us... we now have to take the next step but we must not take it lightly. This bill is good in context but it needs a lot of work and should not be passed as is, for I fear it is the best we will get and that is just not good enough. Only we the people can assure that will happen with our voices.This is not only an issue of environment, but Democracy. We need our children to ask the other question: where did you find the moral courage to face the challenge of the climate crisis? Not, why didn't you do anything when you knew of its destructive effects and had the power to at least slow it down?

pass jay: people do care. This article wouldn't have been posted if they didn't. More people care than this government knows or will acknowledge... but they will know it.

squidteeth: yes it says much about human nature on the whole. As the saying goes, money talks and BS walks. Investors are now seeing that this is important because shareholders are now seeing it as important. That is the money chain that will hopefully lead to progress on the political level in Washington DC. Twenty six states and over three hundred cities already see it as important, and we need that to also give us momentum to carry it forward.

Thanks for posting this very important article Jan

i think that they are right....people don't really give a darn about the environment. If they did, our emission system would be in much better shape that it is in.

Thank GOD the investors are getting nervous! If money can't get our government in gear then nothing can.

You know it's getting bad when the will of the people doesn't mean a thing to our policy makers, the only thing that makes them jump is the thought of money leaving their pockets.

This only proves to me that the government is slowing down the kind of change we need. Their bills don't have any balls because they're afraid that the big bosses with all the money will get antsy. Well now they're telling you to get your asses in gear, and hopefully you'll listen.

Glad to see that institutional investors want to see some teeth added to this bill. It's a start but we need to be closer to that 90% reduction.

Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

I just called my senator's office and told them that 66% by 2050 is totally inadequate to meet scientific predictions and current reality. I also told them that we need to be moving more aggressively to solar and wind and other alternate energies and not giving more taxpayer subsidies to coal and nuclear. I was told it would be passed on to him, so I hope it is. If each and every one of us took three minutes to do that perhaps it will make a difference.

I did tell them that I was happy to see a bill at all, but hope it would be strengthened to move us into the future rather than continuing to move us back to the past. Will it matter? I don't know, but everytime I look at my son who deserves better and think of my parents who both died from cancer I cannot foresee the world these politicians want to make for us and I cannot be silent.

Yes, I haven't liked Lieberman since he stabbed Al Gore and all of us in the back in 2000. He cannot be trusted and he only looks out for himself. And he is going to hear from me this week about this bill as will Sen. Warner, and Sen.Boxer who is actually the only one out of all of them with some semblance of foresight regarding this. This is our chance to be heard about the climate crisis. Subsidies to nuclear and coal are not climate security they are climate suicide.

Word, JanforGore.

Don't trust anything Joe Lieberman and John Warner propose. They are the hawks that pushed the Iraq War and lied to the American people about seeing proof Saddam Hussein had WMD's.

Yes, when those who fill your campaign coffers want accountability, you better give it to them. That is where the change will come from to tip the political scales. It's time for politicians to catch up with the rest of us and get out of their ivory towers and look around at reality.

In related news, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board yesterday voted in favour of legislation that would make it the first region in the US to impose a carbon tax on businesses.

Under the legislation, which will take effect from the start of July, 2,500 companies and agencies will pay 4.4 cents for every metric ton of carbon dioxide they emit. While the fee for many businesses will be modest, it is expected that the 10 biggest polluters in the region will have to pay over $820,000 (£410,000) combined.

Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo County supervisor and air district chairman Jerry Hill said the board was right to pre-empt state and federal carbon legislation. "Someone needs to take a first step, and we are running out of time, when you consider that the bay will have risen three feet by 2100 and the effects of climate change will be devastating," he said. "This is a more expensive proposition if we do nothing."

However, the long-term future of the tax remains in doubt with the legislation expected to face a legal challenge from business groups which argue that the board does not have the authority to impose the levy.

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This sounds like a step in the right direction; even if it is in doubt. It sends a message that local jurisdictions are willing to step up to the plate and assist in influencing the outcome.

People are really serious about meeting the challenge of climate change and if investors are wanting accountability, then that is a good thing.

Nice Jan-

People need to know about this backward assed stuff...
Politicians and their reverse naming... It makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.