Climate Change Attorney Blog

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved a markup of the proposed American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 H.R. 2454 today. In a statement released by the committee, committee chair Waxman stated: ""Today the Committee took decisive and historic action to promote America's energy security and to create millions of clean energy jobs that will drive our economic recovery and long-term growth."

The Bill, which still faces several more legislative hurdles, has four main components:

* A clean energy title that promotes renewable sources of energy, carbon capture and sequestration technologies, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and electricity transmission.

* An energy efficiency title that increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry.

* A global warming title that places limits on emissions of heat-trapping pollutants. This legislation would cut global warming pollution by 17% compared to 2005 levels in 2020, by 42% in 2030, and by 83% in 2050. These are science-based targets and within the range agreed to by USCAP.

* A title that protects U.S. consumers and industry and promotes green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.

In a statement today, the President proposed new CAFE standards to bring about fuel efficiency and reduce emission of Greenhouse Gases. The President stated that through these new rules "we're seeking to raise fuel-economy standards to an industry average of 35.5 miles per gallon in 2016, an increase of more than eight miles per gallon per vehicle. That's an unprecedented change, exceeding the demands of Congress and meeting the most stringent requirements sought by many of the environmental advocates represented here today."

As further noted in an announcement by the White House, these standards represent a broad consensus of government, industry, the UAW and environmentalists. "Whereas these issues seemed destined to be the subject of eternal political clashing just last year, today the President was joined on stage by the Presidents, CEOs, or other top executives from Ford, Toyota, General Motors, Honda, Chrysler, BMW AG, Nissan, Mercedez-Benz, Mazda, Volkswagon, and the United Auto Workers to announce a new consensus."

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, subcommittee on Health, introduced a bill yesterday entitled the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act, H.R.2323, aimed at addressing the health effects of climate change. The general purpose of the proposed law is to require that the: "Secretary of Health and Human Services, within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, on the basis of the best available science, and in consultation pursuant to paragraph (2), shall publish a strategic action plan to assist health professionals in preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change on public health in the United States and other nations, particularly developing nations."

The proposed law appears to be, at least in part, a response to a recent report from the Environmental Defense Fund raising concern over the increasing adverse impacts of climate change upon human health and in a press release issued today the Environmental Defense Fund praised the proposed legislation.