A chance to get it right on global warming

Will our delegation do what it takes?

This summer, Environment Michigan’s staff and members are pushing our congressional delegation to get it right on global warming by passing a strong bill that sets the right goals, rewards innovators and deters polluters, and gives decision-makers the flexibility they’ll need as scientists learn more.

On Dec. 5, a key Senate committee passed the Lieberman-Warner bill. If it passes, the bill will be the first law limiting global warming pollution in the United States by as much as 18 percent by 2020.

Federal action overdue

“We’re glad Congress is finally taking action,” said Environment Michigan’s Danielle Korpalski. “But we have to get this right. The science demands we go further.”

Though the passage of any global warming bill in Congress would be historic, we’re urging our members of Congress to pay attention to the details.

We worked in the spring to add strengthening provisions to take those steps. During our annual citizen lobby day in March, attended by members from across the country, Environment Michigan called on our congressional delegation to support legislation that would:

• Deter carbon polluters, not reward them. We advocate cap-and-trade programs that require carbon emitters to pay for the privilege, with the funds going to finance a transition to a clean energy economy.
• Allow decision-makers flexibility. As scientists learn more over the next few decades, it might be necessary to adjust the goals for cuts in emissions. 

Combining grassroots action at home and the persuasive powers of our advocates in Washington, D.C., we’ve been enlisting support for these ideas in Congress. As of this spring, at least 150 members of the House and 20 members of the Senate have agreed to support legislation that embodies our goals. Among them is Rep. John Conyers (Dearborn).

Rising temperatures have dire implications for the Great Lakes’ coastal ecosystems.