Stakeholders Recommendations On Climate Change Legislation

Apr 19: Representatives John Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Rick Boucher (D-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, made public the responses of more than 70 industry groups, non-governmental organizations and labor unions to a letter soliciting recommendations on prospective climate change legislation. Leaders from the energy industry and environmental community responded to questions focusing on the ramifications of greenhouse gas emissions and cap-and-trade policy. The responses comprise an important summary collection of interest group positions on climate change.

Dingell said, “These responses illustrate the challenge we have before us in balancing our environmental and economic needs. As we continue our effort to craft sensible policies to address the matter of rising greenhouse gas emissions, we will take into consideration the variety of concerns that have been expressed to the committee. The responsibility to solve this problem does not lie solely with one industry. Each will be asked to make an appropriate contribution to the collection box.” Dingell said the outreach effort is part of the Committee’s ongoing examination of climate change. The Committee has conducted 11 climate change hearings featuring testimony from more than 50 witnesses, including former Vice-President Al Gore.

Boucher said, "The challenge before the subcommittee is to write a mandatory greenhouse gas control measure with economy wide application that does not dislocate any economic sector. The responses we received from this diverse group of industry, environmental, and other organizations with a strong interest in climate change legislation offer beneficial insight for the subcommittee as we continue to consider the best method to accomplish this goal.”

Access a release with links to both solicited and unsolicited responses (click here). Access additional information from the Committee on climate change (click here). [*Climate]