Democrats Push Bill to 'Stop Global Warming'

[hedgetrimmer]

~snip~

By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
July 26, 2006

(CNSNews.com) - In the middle of a summertime heat wave, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced on Tuesday that she is co-sponsoring legislation intended to stop global warming.

H.R. 5642, the Safe Climate Act of 2006, was introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman of California and more than 30 other House Democrats.

According to a posting on Waxman's website, the bill would freeze U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, at 2009 levels.

Beginning in 2011, it would cut emissions by roughly two percent a year, supposedly reaching 1990 emissions levels by 2020. After 2020, it would cut emissions by roughly five percent a year. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions are supposed to be 80 percent lower than they were in 1990.

more... http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=%5CPolitics%5Carchive%5C200607%5CPOL20060726b.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A bit late, but better late than never.

[Monkeyman]

1. We found our wedge issue go go go

[krkaufman]

14. Not necessarily the strongest approach, but a strong supporting issue.

I'm more a fan of the "Energy Independence" approach, get us off foreign oil ASAP (benefitting the economy and national security) -- while ALSO working to reduce our greenhouse gases. (Don't wanna switch from oil to "electricity" without addressing how the electricity is generated.)

[Massacure]

2. Emissions will be 80% less in 2050 but not because of this bill.

I wouldn't be surprised if the human population is 80% less though.

[hedgetrimmer]

4. That is so damn funny!

The bullshit thing... I would not be surprised if the human pop was down by 80% either..

[Massacure]

5. I know. That's why I made it my signature.

:D

[Rose Siding]

3. Wow. Something really good.

:bounce:

[bennywhale]

20. As a British DUer i implore you to

really mobilise your support for this one. talk to colleagues, write to newspapers, rally. This is THE issue of the 21st century and it is vital the US (as contributing 27% of the worlds ommissions) takes climate change seriously.

The effects are already being felt around the world as you know and this is the best news i've heard out of America since Bush was elected.

Good luck and go for it.

[wtmusic]

24. thanks for your support

I am tired of my country being the laughing stock of the world, and am on this 100%.

[hatrack]

6. Lots of luck on two counts, guys

1. Lots of luck getting it past Denny "I ride in hybrid cars only if my security detachment allows it" Hastert and the rest of the knuckle-dragging Puke House.

2. Lots of luck getting
a. Greenland to stop melting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=58248

b. permafrost to stop dissolving
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=56102

c. the Amazon to stop dying
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2416044

In particular, lots of luck in getting all of the above done within less than four years. Trust me, I'm not against Congressional action or mandates or any of the above. It's just that we should have been doing this about, oh, 15 years ago, when there still might have been time to slow things down substantially.

But with the thermodynamic inertia now in place - well, anyway, thanks for playing.

[Monkeyman]

9. As he gets into a SUV down the street

[wtmusic]

11. I remember hearing the same things about the ozone layer

and through hard work and cooperation the problem was solved.

Despite the naysayers.

[hatrack]

15. Scientists just added another 20 years to the ozone layer's repair time

South Pole Ozone Layer 20 Years Later Than Expected

The hole in Earth's protective ozone layer won't repair itself until about two decades later than had been expected, scientists announced yesterday.

The ozone layer blocks more than 90 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation, helping to make life as we know it on Earth possible. For many decades, ozone was depleted by chlorine and bromine gas in the air, produced by man-made chlorofluorocarbons. A hole in the ozone layer formed over the Southern Hemisphere. Efforts to curb those chemicals have in recent years led to optimism that ozone would rebuild. Computer models had predicted the hole would fill back in by 2050.

An improved computer model, from scientists at NASA, NOAA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, predicts the recovery won't occur until 2068. The model, fed with fresh data from satellites and airplanes, was verified by the fact that it accurately reproduced ozone levels in the Antarctic stratosphere over the past 27 years.

The ozone hole is actually more of a broad region with less ozone than ought to occur naturally. It is not confined to Antarctica, as is often believed.

EDIT

http://www.livescience.com/environment/060630_ozone_hole.html

Ozone Hole Killing Antarctic Plant Life

PM - Friday, 21 July , 2006 18:30:00
Reporter: Tim Jeanes
MARK COLVIN: There's disturbing new evidence that Antarctica's ozone hole could be having a serious impact on the region's environment.

Scientists have found that ozone depletion is killing off massive amounts of small plant life in the oceans around the frozen continent.

They fear that the effect could flow through the ecosystem to damage the entire food chain.

Among those investigating the impact is Dr Andrew Davidson, a research scientist with the Australian Antarctic Division.

Dr Davidson spoke to our reporter Tim Jeanes.

ANDREW DAVIDSON: We're talking about single cell plants that live in seawater. They form the basis of the Antarctic food web, they supply, either directly or indirectly, all the nutrient that the wealth of Antarctic life needs to survive.

TIM JEANES: So this is quite serious?

ANDREW DAVIDSON: Oh yes, yes indeed. Because they are the foundation upon which the Antarctic biology is built, if you have a level of knock down of these things, as a result UV, which is in the region of somewhere round about 56 per cent, which we seem to be finding in our data, then yes, obviously it has profound ramifications for the sort of food that's available to all the organisms that live in Antarctic waters.

TIM JEANES: What, from penguins, seals? What are we talking about?

ANDREW DAVIDSON: Yeah, we're talking about the whole lot. The life in Antarctic is supported by these small plants: the penguins, the seals, the whales, the krill, the seabirds, you name it, everything eventually derives its nutrient form these small plants.

TIM JEANES: Can we predict what sort of flow through effect there will be if it's a 60 per cent reduction of these... in certain areas, will it necessarily be a 60 per cent reduction in bigger species?

EDIT

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1693715.htm

So maybe, just maybe, wtmusic, you ought to do a little homework before happily chirping about how we "solved" the problem despite the "naysayers".

[wtmusic]

18. ?

The ozone layer is repairing itself. Problem solved. Yes, it will take some time.

Whatever. Enjoy your 'tude...it's so hard to keep a good defeatist down! :eyes:

[krkaufman]

17. Check the waiting period for gun purchases in your state.

You might be able to stroll down and pick one up today, and be out of your misery before the sun sets.

Or... you can put some energy into changing control of the leadership of the House & Senate, voice support for the Dem measures being put forth, write LttEs supporting the measures, or ... at least quit being such a doomsayer.

Always with the negative waves, Moriarty. Always with the negative waves. ;)

[bennywhale]

22. A message of good luck from Britain on this

i hope this is passed and beg you to passionately support this in whatever way you can.

The world needs you lot to take your country back.

Good luck and peace

[krkaufman]

30. Thanks.

Though it would be easier to do if there weren't so many enablers. (see: poodle)

[Barrett808]

7. Check out the climate-change denialist story on the same page

Gotta love that CNS:

'Global Warming' TV Special 'Misleads Public,' Scientist Says (July 14, 2006)
http://www.cnsnews.com/Culture/Archive/200607/CUL20060714a.html

[hatrack]

8. CNS - Cult News Service

:puke:

[wtmusic]

19. A "climatologist" with his degree in political science

whatever.

[mom cat]

10. I hope they fight really hard for it. In an election year, Repub

opposition might be the kiss of death for the Pubs.

[rodeodance]

12. whow. Glad to see this (finally)--now for a health care bill for all.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

13. Nice one

No hope of it passing. The republican party members will stand united to protect "American Jobs". This needs to be addressed after the November election. Maybe then the repubs will be enlightened to what the voter wants when they are in an minority in congress again.

[stepnw1f]

16. good.... (nt)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. By 2050, there may be no oil to fuel the cars that provide

about 1/3 of all CO2 emissions.

Any politician who has ANY SENSE AT ALL is going to be pushing mass transit, retrofitting auto-oriented suburbs and cities for altnerative forms of transportation, including walking and cycling, and using zoning laws to forbid further suburbanization.

[hedgetrimmer]

23. There probably will be oil...

The peak oil thing was a brainstorm of the 1950's and since then more and more reserves have been found... but it is not in the best interest of opec to discuss the oil status of the globe... nor oil industry giants... and then of course by 2050 we may be a dwindling population...

[NickB79]

29. Oil discovery rates peaked in the 1960's

Since then, we keep finding small oilfields like ANWR here and there, but nothing on par with the super-giant fields like Cantarell in Mexico, Burgen in Kuwait, or Ghawar in Saudi Arabia. Two of the fields I just listed are confirmed to be in decline, and one is on life-support from water injections to maintain wellhead pressures. What is interesting is that the US peaked in oil discovery in the mid-50's, and then peaked in oil production in the 1970's.

In the meantime, global oil demand has been going through the roof, with China and India attempting to emulate the US with a car-centered system of transportation and a disposible-goods, consumer-driven economy.

[goforit]

25. Democrats? Since when have they supported Gore's initiative?

[Bandit]

26. That gives everyone three years to really get levels up there

so when they have to start reducing by 2% a year it will take decades to get back to where we are now. I would like to see some immediate action. Beginning in January of 2007 not 2010..Three years a lot more damage will be done. Probably enough damage to make it irreversible. They still don't take this seriously. To them it is only an election strategy. Maybe their strategy is too kill as many people as possible between now and then so reductions will be easier to accomplish. :shrug:

[PaDem]

27. is this ambitious enough?

Seems like more drastic action is neccessary.

[Amonester]

28. K&R (Needs A LOT MORE recommendations, please!)

Because: This is important. Very important.