Email just received from Fred Krupp, head of Environmental Defence Fund, the organization based on real-world science and economics that famously persuaded the first Bush government to initiate cap-and-trade to tackle acid rain (widely recognized as a brilliant succes), and is now leading the charge on cap-and-trade as the best solution for limiting carbon emissions. They have some great web resources devoted to explaining the idea. Lot of debate as to whether carbon tax is better way to go, but EDF is pretty convincing.
From: "Fred Krupp"Date: May 21, 2009 10:29:02 PM EDTSubject: Great news from DCOn a beautiful day in Washington, DC, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has just put the historic climate change legislation on the path to the President’s desk. The American Clean Energy and Security Act, which mandates a declining cap on global warming pollution, cleared the Committee with a vote of 33 to 25.
This is a huge step forward - and many, many people working together made it happen. It couldn’t have happened without you and your strong support for EDF – or the close cooperation of our colleagues in the environmental community and our friends in the business world. The environmental community has worked collaboratively more successfully than ever. And the business community deserves major credit - the American Clean Energy and Security Act draws on key provisions of a legislative blueprint negotiated by the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP). The bill also won support from labor unions like the United Auto Workers and the Steelworkers, faith groups, and state and local officials.
Chairman Waxman has bridged regional differences to produce a bill that can win broad support in the House and serve as a template for quick action in the Senate. We have common ground. Political leaders representing very different economic sectors voted for this bill, recognizing that it will lift the economy. It’s time for the entire House and the Senate to act to strengthen America and leave a world for our children and grandchildren.
The takeaway from today is that there now is a path to President Obama’s desk, and working together we will drive this legislation there.
Many thanks for all you have done to get us this far.
Fred