A Critical Week in the Global Warming Debate

Today, the U.S. Senate begins debate on the Climate Security Act, a critical bill that will address the global warming crisis head-on. After many months of committee hearings and testimony, our bill has finally reached the Senate floor. It's a day we've been waiting for a long time.

The Climate Security Act would enact the world's most far-reaching program to fight global warming, instituting an economy-wide cap on emissions that would cut greenhouse gases below 1990 levels by 2020 and slash emissions by nearly 70% by 2050.

In addition to fighting global warming, our bill will provide cleaner air, greater energy efficiency, relief for consumers, and the alternative energy choices that American families deserve -- significantly reducing America's dependence on foreign oil. What's more, by acting wisely on global warming, America will regain much of the leadership and respect we have lost around the world these past seven years.

Some will say that the Climate Security Act would be better if it was strengthened. I agree, and that is why I will be supporting amendments to make the bill even stronger on the floor of the Senate. In addition, I will be fighting weakening amendments from our right-wing opponents to ravage the bill.

But here's the bottom line: It's so critical to start fighting the global warming threat right now. We can't afford to wait another year or two and hope for the best.

The Climate Security Act is a good bill that gives us a real chance, at long last, to put America on the path to solving the global warming crisis. It's time to get started.

Make no mistake about it -- the far-right in the Senate is organizing a brutal fight against this bill, which, if enacted, would be the strongest global warming legislation in the world. This will be one of the toughest fights of our generation. Getting the strongest global warming bill possible passed through the Senate will send a strong message that we do not intend to stand idly by while scientists warn us again and again that our planet is in jeopardy.

We're going to have to fight hard to get the Climate Security Act passed -- and I need your help to do it.

Please click here to forward an email to your Senators right now: Encourage them to support the Climate Security Act on the Senate floor this week!

This is a critical week in our fight to address the global warming threat. With the far-right gearing up for a bruising battle on the Senate floor, I need your help like never before. Please speak out.

Follow Sen. Barbara Boxer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Barbara_Boxer

Comments

[radmul]

Thank you senator.

[DavidJames]

Senator Boxer,

Great to hear about the Climate Security Act. Sounds like this will be a great start. I have noticed that the act makes use of a rather complex cap and trade system that would be easy to game. Wouldn't a revenue neutral carbon dioxide tax be simpler and easier to administer?

The open and unregulated trading of electricity did not work out too well for California. We ended up with a bunch of SOBs in Houston ripping off Grandma Milli and just about everyone else. I understand people have already set up to game the cap and trade system.

Why not throw them a curve by amending the Climate Security Act with a revenue neutral carbon dioxide tax?

Regards,

[postedby]

And why don't we reverse the polarity, add some recursive algorithms and tie it to the atomic weight of lead? Geez.

Meanwhile, ask algore about how to game this proposed system.

[kingcityguru]

Global average temperatures have not risen in 8 years and even the globalwarminmongers say it won't increase over the next 10.

When plants stop using CO2 to grow, give me a call.

[jay1975]

Let's see, the solar cycle is in its cool phase, ocean currents are cooling and the arctic ice levels are the highest ever recorded and the top scientists are saying that we will be in a cooling trend for the next 10-15 years. Yep, sounds like we need to do something about it right now since there are computer models that know exactly how all elements in our atmosphere, oceans and the sun affect the climate. Garbage in...garbage out.

[oncethere]

There is a radio station with a very strong signal in my town that broadcasts right-wing talk all day long. You know the type who say, "Global warming is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind." Well, from12am to 4am, there is a show in which people call in to recount their experiences with aliens. I've always thought, "isn't this the perfect topper to a day of right wing radio."

[HansB]

"Global average temperatures have not risen in 8 years" ... take a look at the North Pole ice cap, or at Mount Kilimanjaro, or at Greenland glaciers.

In case you didn't know, ice melts when it's warmer, and the world is not flat.

[sheila]

What are you doing to get more solar panels on our roofs and to stop the killing of our wilderness areas with "solar farms" and "wind farms," Senator? I write and call your office all the time and get unrelated press releases back, instead of actual attention to the issues that matter, like NOT making an enormous irrevocable mistake by handing Big Energy yet another opportunity to destroy and exploit the planet while your constituents are left with nothing for their money.

WE WANT SOLAR AND WIND ON PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED PROPERTY AND WE WANT IT NOW! we do not want more subsidies for rich farmers, rich energy companies and rich lobbyists. Please divert all that money (OUR money) back to US so we can take advantage of all the wind, sun and gorgeous wilderness that is our birthright in this country.

You of all people should know that the desert is not a disposable, blighted wasteland, so why are you allowing people to completely destroy it for profits when there is a much better alternative - oversized renewable power on previously developed land with 100% capital and buyback guarantees. It's only politics that is stopping a green economy from being reality. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem...

[UnbiasView]

Make some money and buy some solar panels then, stop asking government to do it for you.

[oncethere]

Right, better to ask government to build incredibly expensive weapon systems and throw away tons of money in a never-ending war in a far-off place in the world.

[postedby]

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