House passes climate bill

Physics Today : On Friday, the Democrats narrowly won passage in the House for the 1200-page American Clean Energy and Security Act by a 219–212 vote—two votes more than required.The bill calls on the US to cut production of greenhouse gases by 17% of 1990 levels by 2020 and 83% by mid-century. Currently US greenhouse gas emissions are rising on average by 1% each year.Despite statements on both sides of the aisle insisting that they want to combat climate change, a number of Republicans and Democrats have been mounting a rear-guard action to weaken the bill, particularly in its long and convoluted passage through the House Energy and Commerce committee .The outcome depended on locking in the so-called “Blue Dog Democrats” and the number of moderate Republicans—despite pressure from Republican leadership to kill the bill (more ). In his weekly address President Obama hailed the bill and stated that he was looking forward to the Senate clearing passage “so that we can say, at long last, that this was the moment when we decided to confront America’s energy challenge and reclaim America’s future.""As this legislation moves to the Senate, it is also important to consider its international implications,” says Eileen Claussen of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change . “Enactment of a comprehensive energy and climate bill along the lines of the ACES Act will finally allow the US to help lead the efforts toward a global agreement in which the major economies of the world, both developed and developing, play their part to address the climate challenge.” Related Links House narrowly passes climate change bill Physics Today House Passes Bill to Address Threat of Climate Change New York Times Climate Change Activists Dismayed by Some of Bill’s Provisions Washington Post