Kerry op-ed in Roll Call: U.S. Must Lead on Climate Change

[beachmom]

I was a bit worried when Kerry seemed to de-emphasize climate change when discussing the bill he was working on with Graham and Lieberman. However, this op-ed alleviates my concerns. Yes, he talks about national security and jobs; but the climate is very front and center:

http://www.rollcall.com/features/Energy-Environment_2010/energy_environment/44979-1.html?type=printer_friendly

It has been three months since President Barack Obama and the United States took an important step toward leading the world in developing the Copenhagen Accord, a breakthrough new global agreement among almost 120 nations, including China and the developing world, to reduce emissions, increase transparency and support international climate change investments.
At its foundation is a new economic reality that the leaders of the 21st century will be those committed to clean energy economies.

The United States, with our innovative spirit and entrepreneurial vitality, is positioned to lead the way — if we seize the opportunity staring us in the face.

In the coming weeks the Senate will have a historic opportunity to debate legislation that will make our way easier. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Obama are committed to make this the year that the United States finally passes comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. Further delay would only exacerbate the risk of falling behind in the emerging global competition for clean energy jobs, manufacturing and markets. The bipartisan legislation that Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) and I have been working to complete presents an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss.

We begin not just by curbing man-made carbon emissions that are contributing to climate change at an alarming rate but by also establishing incentives for private investment in clean energy technology industries. Over the next 10 years, those investments can create as many as 1.9 million jobs, increase household incomes by up to $1,175 a year and boost the gross domestic product as much as $111 billion.

Go to the link to read the rest. I love that he says we "can't drill our way" out of our problems. Good for the Senator!

[wisteria]

1. I like the "drill cmment also. We just need to be able to convince a large number of Americans that

the issue requires more than just a simple solution.

[beachmom]

2. Now THIS is possible good news:

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/04/12/12greenwire-some-see-white-house-rhetoric-signaling-climat-88495.html?pagewanted=all

White House Rhetoric May Signal Climate-Bill Surge

With the bruising health care debate over, President Obama's top economic adviser left little doubt last week that energy and climate has taken its place atop the administration's agenda.

During a 30-minute speech (pdf) at a Washington energy conference, Larry Summers, the head of the White House's National Economic Council, used lofty rhetoric to warn of the long-term consequences if Congress fails to follow through this year on a sweeping overhaul of how the nation generates and uses energy.

"Read the history of great nations," Summers said. "Read how they succeed and read how they fail. Their ability to mobilize to solve problems before they are absolutely imminent crises is what determines their longevity. That's why this task of economic renewal is so important broadly. And that's why I believe it is so important that we move for economic reasons to pass comprehensive energy legislation."

Summers, a former Treasury secretary and president of Harvard University, went on to outline ways a climate and energy bill can help the U.S. economy grow, from creating short-term jobs to reducing uncertainty and increasing confidence for new private-sector investments.

If the WH is taking an interest in the issue and starting to push it, maybe the thing is not as dead as it has seemed . . .

[karynnj]

4. Great statement from Summers

It reminds me of the Diamond book "Collapse", which I read when it was on some long ago list of recommended books that Kerry wrote. The topic sounded fascinating - and it was, though very, very detailed.

That Summers is putting it in terms of our ability to remain a successful country is really as strong an argument as you can make. This should shake up the American exceptionalists a bit.

[wisteria]

8. I am hoping it passed without to much BS from Republican talk radio

and it is done quickly.

[karynnj]

3. Like you I am reassured by this op-ed

I've seen so many speculative articles that have spoken of all the factions and the likely giveaways - and many that speak of Kerry's cautious optimism that they can get something that makes a difference out. I agree with Kerry's off stated view that putting a price to carbon (IMO, especially if there is the expectation that the cost will rise over time), it will set off a chain of companies investing in research and development to find ways to reap the financial rewards of being cleaner. Just by doing this, the carbon produced becomes a factor in any economic analyses of different proposal before management of any company.

Kerry often sited that, with acid rain, it cost less than anyone expected and they reduced it faster than expected. (The Krugman NYT article that I posted here says exactly the same thing about that - so now I have something other than a Kerry statement to link to.) This makes me more optimistic that a plan that is designed to reduce emissions by 17%, which is not enough per every scientist, could be what makes the difference. It will let us be on the side pushing other countries to take measures and I suspect that even if the goal is 17% - it is very possible that it will achieve more. This is positive especially when the alternatives are worse. (I do hope that Kerry holds out against holding back the states - but one article said the concern was caused because Kerry said that he wants CA to be able to do more than the country. They took from that that CA, and only CA, should be able to do that - and the fact that industry is pushing for that and several Senators/Governors have appealed for that NOT to be the case.)

[beachmom]

5. Harry Reid "pushing hard" for the climate bill. Hmmm.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/91761-reid-pushing-very-hard-for-climate-bill?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that he's pushing the architects of upcoming Senate climate and energy legislation to produce the measure quickly.

Asked if he hoped to bring the bill to the floor before July 4, Reid said "I hope so. We're going to try very hard."

"A lot is waiting until we get the bill. I'm pushing very hard to get the bill," Reid told reporters in the Capitol.

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) met again to discuss their upcoming bill in the Capitol Monday evening.

Speaking of Krugman (and OT), did you see his article on Georgia and failed SMALL banks? It goes to show that one should not follow Arianna Huffington, who told everyone to divest their money from big banks and put them into small banks. Life is not so black and white.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/opinion/12krugman.html

[karynnj]

6. Thanks for the link, I hadn't read it

He makes a good case that there are many things that led to these problems. It is interesting that Texas, of all places, has a good consumer protection agency. It will be interesting to see if anything in Dodd's bill deals with problems like that. (I also wonder if the predatory lending bills that Durbin, Sarbanes, Kerry et al tried a few times to pass would have helped there - even though they would have probably done little for the big megabanks.

[ProSense]

7. Looks like the push is on. They

really need to get climate legislation through.

I read the Krugman article earlier. Very interesting.

[beachmom]

9. It also looks like Chuck Schumer has temporarily "lost" to Kerry:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/reid-hits-pause-button-on-immigration/?src=twt&twt=thecaucus

Reid Hits Pause Button on Immigration

By CARL HULSE

Senator Harry Reid retreated today from having the Senate move quickly on immigration law changes, saying any overhaul would have to wait.