U.S. Action Alone Will Not Impact CO2 Levels

by Brad Peck

The EPA via The Foundry via The Chilling Effect:

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee began their hearings on the 1,500 page Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation Tuesday, and ranking member Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) won a startling admission from Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson. Inhofe produced an EPA chart generated last year during the Senate’s debate of the Lieberman-Warner cap-and-trade legislation. The chart showed that the carbon reductions under that bill would not materially effect global carbon concentrations in the atmosphere. Inhofe then asked Jackson if she agreed with the chart’s conclusions. Jackson replied: "I believe that essential parts of the chart are that the U.S. action alone will not impact CO2 levels."

The post also looks at the impact of this non-impact on the U.S. economy. So, it's almost as if a global accord to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is the best way to tackle this global issue and unconditional domestic legislation without an international agreement would put domestic industries at a competitive disadvantage.  If only someone had told the House that.