Conservation, Efficiency and
Environmental Protection

Climate Change

Climate change is generally viewed as a global issue, but proposed responses generally require action at the national level. In 1992, the United States ratified the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change which called on industrialized countries to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Over the past decade, a variety of voluntary and regulatory actions have been proposed or undertaken in the U.S., but greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol is now in force and countries which ratified it are developing their strategies to comply. The U.S. has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

• Legislative Initiatives:  Climate change measures are increasingly being offered by both Democrats and Republicans. Fore example, the most discussed proposal in the 109th Congress was sponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and John McCain (R-AZ), S. 342, The Climate Stewardship Act of 2005. This bill would place a national cap on greenhouse gas emissions and allow companies to buy and sell emission credits. U.S. Representatives Wayne Gilchrest (R–MD) and John W. Olver (D–MA) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Gilchrest-Olver Climate Stewardship Act is the House companion of the bill, H. 759. No action has been taken on either of these bills.