Climate Report Shows U.S. Needs Stronger Climate Policy

March 6, 2007

A draft administration report projecting a 20 percent increase in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 shows that federal climate policy must be strengthened significantly, Republicans for Environmental Protection, a national grassroots organization with elected officials as members, said today.

"We need to lower emissions, not increase them, in order to reduce the serious risks that a hotter climate will damage our economy, security, and quality of life," REP Government Affairs Director David Jenkins said. "There is no longer any serious scientific debate about the role of human activities in changing the climate. It's time for action. True conservatism imposes a moral obligation on today's generation to restrain wasteful consumption, treat the world with reverence, and protect the inheritance of future generations," Jenkins said.

REP called on Congress and the administration to agree on practical, balanced legislation that caps greenhouse gas emissions and provides market incentives to accelerate development of cleaner energy technologies.

"Senator John McCain's bill is the kind of approach that's needed, with an ambitious but doable emissions cap and incentives for advanced energy technologies. A mainstream bill like Senator McCain's has the best chance of becoming law," Jenkins said.

"In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a smart climate policy will create greater energy security and create economic opportunities for manufacturers and farmers," REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso said.

"State governors and business leaders are pressing Washington to act. The longer that action is delayed, the harder it will be to get a handle on the climate problem and the further behind we will fall in deploying the energy technologies that we need to provide for a safe, clean and secure future," DiPeso said.

"Taking dangerous risks with the only atmosphere that we have is not conservative. A stable global climate has enabled human civilization to thrive. It is our duty to reduce the risks of global warming and safeguard our natural inheritance for future generations. It's the right and the conservative thing to do," DiPeso said.