Safe Climate Act of 2006 Up to 68 Bipartisan Cosponsors
The Safe Climate Act of 2006 (H.R. 5642), introduced by Rep. Waxman (D-CA) on June 20, now has 68 cosponsors, including two Republicans, Reps. Leach (R-IA) and Weldon (R-PA). The bill calls for a mandatory market-based cap and trade system in an effort to prevent average global temperatures from not increasing above 2C (3.6F) above the preindustrial average; that global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent do not exceed 450 parts per million; and that US CO2 equivalent emissions are reduced by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. Summary of the Bill The Safe Climate Act of 2006 (H.R. 5642) sets targets and requires the actions that will be necessary to avoid dangerous, irreversible warming of our planet. Science tells us that we face a grave risk of irreversible and devastating global warming if global temperatures increase by more than 3.6F. The bill sets greenhouse gas emissions targets that aim to keep temperatures below the danger point. The level of emissions is frozen in 2010 and then gradually reduced each year through 2050. The bill achieves these targets through a flexible economy-wide cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions, along with measures to advance technology and reduce emissions through […]