Economy-wide carbon tax proposed by two US senators

A climate bill has never cleared Congress so it is a bold move and one that will need cross-party support to advance
11 juin 2015 à 1h05
Pouvoirs
Senators Brian Schatz and Sheldon Whitehouse unveiling their bill to create a US carbon tax — Brian Beary
par Brian Beary

The choice of venue to unveil it on 10 June was notable: the American Enterprise Institute, a top conservative think tank in Washington. The Democrat co-sponsor of the 37-page American Opportunity Carbon Free Act , Senator Brian Schatz (Hawaii), admitted: “I never expected to be here,” adding “let's begin the discussion”. An environmental NGO would have been a more obvious choice of venue to launch the bill, however some conservatives do support a carbon tax, seeing it as a less…

US pledge for COP-21

The Obama administration has made its pledge for the UN climate conference in Paris in December. The US goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to between 26% and 28% below 2005 levels by 2030 using administrative actions based on existing legislation. The key measures are: the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule to curb emissions from existing power plants to be finalised this summer; new Department of Transportation rules to increase fuel efficiency standards of cars and trucks; and new Department of Energy measures to reduce methane leaks in the gas sector. Washington will contribute US$3 billion to the UN Green Climate Fund.

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