I hope it happens, too

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in an Op-Ed in the Washington Post:

The climate change bill that senators are to begin debating next week is a hugely important signal of intent on behalf of U.S. legislators...: Unless the United States radically reduces its greenhouse gas emissions, along with other major emitters, the damage to the climate will be irreversible.

...Measures in the bill, through a mandatory cap-and-trade scheme, would reduce emissions 70 percent from 2005 levels by 2050...

Over the past few years, the debate on climate change has shifted profoundly. The scientific consensus that human activity is causing global warming has become overwhelming.

The effect of unabated climate change is shocking and...it is far riskier economically to ignore climate change than to act to abate it.

He concludes:

Without an American commitment, a global deal is impossible... If the United States commits to the 50 percent global target for a reduction in emissions by mid-century and to legislation that mandates action, it will transform the prospects for effective change... I hope it happens.

| +Save/Share | |