Climate Bill Unlikely Until Next Year
Progress on the domestic climate bill reaches its end for 2009. (image: change.org)
Well, it’s all but official: there will not, in all likelihood, be a climate bill passed this year, reports the Wall Street Journal. On Tuesday, key Senate Democrats said there probably not be any more major committee action on climate-change legislation, signaling that a comprehensive bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions will have to wait until next year.
Climate change leaders around the world would naturally prefer to see a Senate bill passed by the time of the Copenhagen summit. However, according to Carter Roberts, CEO of the World Wildlife Fund, it may be enough for senators to release a blueprint for action and demonstrate efforts to fashion a compromise.
A climate bill should have a “credible cap, strong international provisions and flexibility to move to solutions within a fairly urgent timetable,” Roberts said, adding that the US shows leadership on climate change, other nations will follow. And if President Obama attends the conference to “close the deal,” as it was reported yesterday, his presence will make a strong statement about the seriousness of US efforts to pass climate legislation.
Although the Senate Environment Committee did approve a version of the bill, there is opposition from moderate Democrats, especially from senators on the Finance and Agriculture committees.
“It’s common understanding that climate-change legislation will not be brought up on the Senate floor and pass the Senate this year,” Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) said, adding that although he planned to hold hearings on climate legislation and eventually mark up a bill, he didn’t know if he could put it together this year.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev), whose plate has been overflowing this year with debate on healthcare legislation and finance reform has dropped his earlier schedules for committees, and an aide said that the leader hasn’t drafted any new timetables on climate change.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a moderate Democrat from Michigan, is taking the lead on making an effort to protect manufacturing and agriculture industries. She said the Agriculture Committee—which has jurisdiction over climate provisions fundamental to containing costs and cutting emissions in the farming and forestry sectors—might not even debate or vote on any provisions for the bill, especially since committees were no longer under any timetables to produce legislation.
Even Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), who has been a leader on the climate bill, has conceded that he is more focused on getting the 60 votes necessary to pass a bill than erecting deadlines which may be unrealistic. “The main thing to do here is to build the adequate base of support and consensus,” he said.
Josh Garrett says: says:
Fiona-
Thanks for offering a perspective from Australia. I agree that there are many other pressing local environmental issues that could (and in some cases should) be addressed before governments turn their attention to climate change.
However, your belief that climate change is not a product of man’s activities on earth and not a real threat has been all but completely debunked. Looking at the big picture, it makes sense that slowing and ultimately reversing man-made climate change is the highest priority on environmental agendas. The possible effects of global warming are infinitely more devastating and far-reaching than any other environmental concern. Unchecked climate change could be disastrous for every nation on the planet, while local problems, though certainly worth attention and government action, pose threats to local populations and not our entire civilization.
Fiona, Australia says: says:
I’m not torn on it at all. There are some pressing environmental issues - deforestation, pollutants in waterways, water levels in Australia - none of these are anything to do with Copenhagen and the b-s being bandied around by the carbon alarmists banging on about climate change. Carbon is a natural occurring gas that is harmless - and GOOD for the planet. Climate change is cyclical and is naturally occurring. Don’t tip in your money to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.
Kristy Kershaw says: says:
I am so torn on this. I am equal parts completely frustrated by the lack of action and urgency on the part of the federal government, and heartened by the possibility of taking the time to craft a bill that works and has support. I wish I felt like whatever came out of this bill would be what is going to save us from further climate destruction, but I sadly think it will just be a stitched-together collection of political compromises.
Sigh.