Energy security has become a key social, political and technological concern. With this blog we explore which forms of energy we should secure and how that energy security can be made sustainable.
New U.S. bill to combat climate change
There may not be a magic bullet to fight climate change, but with many steps, small and big, we can come a long way. Today’s introduction of new legislation to promote clean tech, create green jobs and enhance domestic energy production is such a step.
The legislation, introduced by Democratic Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer, would establish a "cap and trade" scheme to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
I think it’s actually a fairly modest plan. The Senate bill sets down the target of cutting carbon emissions by 20% on 2005 levels by 2020. The Kyoto Protocol, from 1997, stated at the time that industrialized countries, would reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent from 1990 levels.
In any case, amidst the plans to recover the economy and reform the healthcare system, this plan to change the energy sector deserves support.
Photo: Hyungwon Kang/Reuters
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