Climate Change - Finding the Balance

by Bruce Josten

On Tuesday I sent a letter to Senators Boxer and Inhofe on climate change which reminded:

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce believes climate change is an important issue for this Congress to address. The Chamber stands ready to work with Congress to resolve this issue in a bipartisan manner that recognizes regional differences, the state of the technology, and the compelling need for a solution that minimizes overall economic impact."

and reminded some more:

"The Chamber will continue to oppose bad policies that resemble the failed climate proposals of the past, such as bills that jeopardize American jobs, create trade inequalities, leave open the Clean Air Act, open the door to CO2-based mass tort litigation, and further hamper the permitting process for clean energy."

This has been our position for the last two years and only represents a change to those who have willfully misrepresented it in the past. While the Chamber's position has not changed there has been a shift in the debate as our elected officials increasingly recognize what the public has known all along: for a strong economy we need energy. We need more energy; we need cleaner energy; and we need to use energy more efficiently. Simply put, we can't move forward by taking two steps back.

There are many unknowns regarding climate change, anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something -- caveat emptor. The fact that there are unknowns is not a reason for inaction. One of the roles of Congress is to understand the many competing pressures within society (economic, social, environmental, security) and to strike a balance that best supports a sustained high quality of life for its citizens. That is what we are asking Congress to do in the climate change debate, find the balance that sets the nation on a path that will foster economic development, better our environment, allow upward movement in society and provide security for our nation. Achieving this balance is not easy and cannot be done by selecting one of the competing forces, e.g. environment, and placing it above all other concerns. Congress can't regulate reality and human nature. But what it can do is establish incentives and rules that foster innovation and prosperity.

We are encouraged by Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman's efforts to develop sensible climate legislation, and by Senator Boxer's support for their efforts. We will continue to work with them, and anyone else who is interested in crafting a "realistic, cost-effective and environmentally meaningful climate change bill."

Comments

[Mike M]

There is no such thing as 'sensible climate legislation' because there is ZERO mesaurable empirical evidence that human CO2 causes global warming. Therefore, given that no evidence exists and this whole AGW 'crisis' is just an outright lie and no different than the global cooling scare hatched by people like the 'Union of Concerned Scientists' back in the 70's - then there is simple NOTHING 'sensible' about it at all. Why legislate nonsense to break our economy? They need an excuse to destroy our country? There is no compromise between the truth and LIE and AGW is strongly looking to be the latter.

Drill baby drill! We have the most oil and gas reserves of the world right here in our back yard with new reserves found every day. Exploit those and put America BACK TO WORK or coddle these pinko types in Congress and watch our economy crumble into oblivion. The choice is yours.