Eye on Washington: Winter 2008

NRDC's Washington team is swarming the halls of Capitol Hill as the climate security bill of 2007 -- the so-called Lieberman-Warner bill -- gains momentum. The bill would finally cap global warming pollution in the United States and actually reduce it over time by creating a market-based system in which polluters can either cut their emissions or purchase pollution allowances that will fund new energy technologies.

NRDC believes the bill is a strong start, but we're hard at work to make sure that it achieves real emission reductions that keep pace with what the world's top scientists say is necessary to prevent the worst consequences of global warming. NRDC's legislative staff has its ear to the ground, preparing to fight the passage of any amendments that aim to weaken the emissions limits.

Global warming pollution is increasing faster than ever and its effects are already apparent, from the Arctic Circle to tropical coral reefs and all the way down to Antarctica. NRDC is committed to supporting a bipartisan coalition that can quickly pass a strong global warming bill that addresses every segment of the U.S. economy. It is time our federal lawmakers become true leaders in the fight against global warming.

Illustration by Zach Trenholm