NRDC Views Dingell/Boucher White Paper as Constructive Move Toward Dealing with Global Warming

WASHINGTON (October 5, 2007) -- On October 3, 2007, The Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, John D. Dingell, and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Rick Boucher, released a White Paper on Climate Change. NRDC believes that the White Paper, which calls for mandatory cap and trade legislation, designed to reduce greenhouse gases by 60-80 percent by 2050, is a helpful step toward comprehensive climate legislation. According to David Doniger, policy director for the Climate Center at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), “The White Paper is a constructive opening move toward cap and trade legislation.”

 

“To effectively address global warming, Congress must pass both an energy bill and cap and trade legislation. The energy bill must raise fuel economy standards for automobiles, increase appliance energy efficiency standards, and establish a renewable energy standard for electricity companies,” said Doniger.

 

“With the effects of global warming already being felt across the country and around the world in the form of heat waves, droughts, more intense hurricanes, and loss of biodiversity, immediate action by the federal government to curb emissions is critical,” according to Doniger.