But, I've heard from lots of experts and scientists and I'm convinced that the continued growth in emissions of greenhouse gases is a risk with potentially serious consequences, like changes in growing season, violent weather extremes, and melting glaciers.
I believe it is prudent to take common sense steps to deal with this risk now. That's why this hearing is important. If we get it right, we can use the marketplace to harness people's ingenuity and reduce greenhouse gases.
We got it right when we set up the sulfur allowance trading system in the Clean Air Act. That worked better and more efficiently than anyone expected.
There's no guarantee this kind of approach will work with greenhouse gases, but it might.
If we design it right, it will be like an insurance policy. It won't cost much, but it will help protect our economy and the environment.
A lot of the discussion so far has focused on manufacturing companies and utilities. But the agriculture and forestry sectors could well benefit from this approach. They could generate credits and income by removing carbon from the atmosphere and locking it up in soils and trees.
Today's witnesses can help us refine the concept of credit trading so it can work for everyone, not just big sophisticated companies. They can also tell us about what kinds of information we'll need to make sure we get real reductions.
I thank the Chairman for his leadership in this area (Senator Lieberman too) and for starting us on the path of positive, constructive steps we can take to reduce the threat from climate change.