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Issues
Environment Global Warming
Global warming will have serious and damaging
effects in the decades ahead, and Congress must address these
effects by adopting strong national policies to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. For this reason, I am a cosponsor of the Global
Warming Pollution Reduction Act. This bill takes a comprehensive
and scientifically based approach to combating global warming.
In addition, I supported the Senate’s comprehensive energy
bill (H.R. 6) which passed on December 13, 2007, and was subsequently
signed into law. This bill will help to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by raising energy efficiency standards for lighting,
appliances, and government buildings; increasing the renewable
fuel standard from 8.5 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion
gallons in 2022; and setting strong but reasonable Corporate
Average Fuel Economy standards.
As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and
the chairman of its African Affairs Subcommittee, I am keenly
aware of the implications of global warming around the world.
I am also a cosponsor of a resolution regarding the need for
the United States to reengage with the international community
on climate change.
I will continue working to reduce
our emissions of greenhouse gases. There is no use in an energy
plan that does little to reduce global warming-causing emissions
and makes our economy vulnerable. I do not pretend that the
decisions before us are going to be easy. However, with each
passing year that we fail to act, the challenge of addressing
global warming and reducing emissions becomes increasingly
difficult and costly – not only economically but environmentally.
The time to act is now.
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