1Sky Calls USCAP's Proposal: "Not Bold Enough"

The 1Sky campaign to ensure bold federal action
to tackle global warming responded today to an agreement from a group
of business and environmental leaders. 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian
Caldwell said, "In order to create a 21st century green economy we need
bold action, not loopholes." Caldwell explained that the U.S. Climate
Action Partnership's (USCAP) proposal includes giveaways to the
nation's most powerful polluters rather than the bold solutions
necessary to solve the climate crisis. "Under this proposal, 40% of the
dirtiest polluters would be allowed to keep polluting," Caldwell said,
"1Sky and its allies urge the members of the House Energy and Commerce
Committee to draft effective energy policy that closes loopholes, and
auctions 100% of pollution allowances." Caldwell noted that
President-elect Obama repeatedly promised to make polluters pay and the
USCAP proposal, as she says, "Lets the most powerful polluters off the
hook."

"USCAP's scheme for coal is not any better. They propose allowing
exorbitant subsidies for coal plants to be built now, as long as they
capture and sequester the carbon once the technology becomes
commercially viable. No one can predict whether or if it will ever be
commercially viable," Caldwell said. The 1Sky coalition wants an
immediate moratorium placed on all new coal-fired power plants that
emit global warming pollution. Caldwell said, "As the massive recent
spill of coal ash in Tennessee reminded all of us: There is no such
thing as clean coal, and we cannot afford to invest in more dirty
plants."

"There is broad scientific agreement that we need to keep global
temperatures from increasing beyond 2 degrees Celsius in order to avoid
the most catastrophic effects of climate change." Caldwell said,
"According to benchmarks set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), developed countries like the U.S. will need to begin reducing
emissions dramatically in the short term to achieve that goal - for the
U.S. that means cutting carbon 35% below current levels by 2020."
Calling the reductions of greenhouse gasses in the proposal "mediocre"
Caldwell pointed out that USCAP proposes to cut U.S. carbon emissions
14-20% below current levels (only 0 to 7% below 1990 levels). Caldwell
said there are several positive elements to USCAP's plan, including a
recognition that the United States needs to lead on solving the climate
crisis. She said, "It is important that a business coalition
acknowledged the need to put a price on carbon." She also praised the
coalition's effort overall saying that we will not convert to a green
energy economy without every segment of society working together.