Blowing Hot and Cold

Imagine a future where you can enjoy summers that are reliably warm and dry, where crops such as sunflowers grow abundantly and you pay less to heat your home because the winters are mild.

You won't live to see it but your grandchildren might. This is what Northern Ireland is predicted to be like at the end of this century if global warming continues unchecked.

U.S. Rep. Sensenbrenner: Statement at United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland

“Since joining the Select Committee, I have reiterated my belief that there are four fundamental principles that must be met for emissions reductions:

“First, as I have already stated, binding inclusion of all nations is mandatory. All studies indicate that actions by developed countries alone will be inadequate to control greenhouse gas emissions. I am familiar with the principle of “common but differentiated” responsibilities, but it is worth remembering that climate change is a common problem and can only be solved with a common solution.

“Second, with the world and the U.S. economies in recession, it is critical that we do not cause further erosion of U.S. jobs or the economy. Analysis of recent legislation by several institutions clearly shows that the “cap-and-tax” approach will have an enormous impact on job growth and our GDP. I call this approach “cap and tax” because that is what it is—a tax on carbon. The emissions trading system is nothing more than a complex scheme to disguise what is ultimately a transfer of wealth from the private to the public sector—in other words, a tax. Other approaches must be found.

“Third, actions must result in real and verifiable environmental benefits. Too much is being made of the effectiveness of offsets (particularly international offsets) in truly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A much more rigorous system must be in place to assure true additionality of actions.

“And fourth, we will have to advance technological development at a pace that may or may not prove achievable. And since we cannot predict technological breakthroughs, we are going to have to allow flexibility in our system so that unreasonable burdens are not placed on our economy if development proves to be slower than hoped for.