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Klobuchar Blasts Administration for Undermining Efforts to Combat Climate Change

Administration's failure to establish greenhouse gas registry highlights the need for Klobuchar's bipartisan 'carbon counter' legislation

February 27, 2008

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today pressed the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Stephen Johnson, on the agency’s failure to move forward with establishing a national greenhouse gas registry.  Because of the Administration’s inaction, Klobuchar’s “carbon counter” provision in the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act becomes central to implement a registry – a step regarded as central to the success of future efforts to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

“How can you claim that a ‘solid foundation’ to combat climate change has been built when your agency does not have accurate data on greenhouse gas emissions?”  Klobuchar asked. “I’ve been involved in public policy long enough to know that you can’t change or fix something unless you can accurately measure and monitor it.”

Klobuchar pressed Johnson at an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on how these misplaced spending priorities in the EPA’s 2009 budget will hurt local communities, the environment, and efforts to combat climate change.

A climate registry like Klobuchar’s legislation enjoys broad support in the U.S. business community with companies like General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, and General Electric viewing it as a critical need.  Businesses have stated that a national registry is the key to help assess the risks of capital investment decisions and spur aggressive investment in research and development.  It would accelerate investment in zero and low-emitting technologies and energy efficiency that will spur new industries and create new “green collar” jobs.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed Klobuchar’s provision last December as part of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.  The greenhouse gas registry is seen by many experts as the foundation for any successful climate change legislation that seeks to implement a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Senator Klobuchar worked closely with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to include funding for a national greenhouse gas registry in the FY 2008 Omnibus appropriations bill, H.R. 2764 as a temporary solution until the Lieberman-Warner bill passes the full Senate.

President Bush's recently proposed budget for FY 2009, released on February 4, 2007, failed to continue funding for the registry.  Klobuchar said that she expects the EPA to move forward implementing a greenhouse gas registry with the money allocated in the FY 2008 omnibus bill and said she will do whatever it takes to secure additional funds going forward for this vital legislation.

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