Global Climate Change

What's New

As a follow up to their white paper on climate change outlining their ideas for a mandatory cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, Senators Domenici and Bingaman held a climate hearing in April 2006. Although some utility executives expressed the need for mandatory cap-and-trade programs, Senator Domenici emphasized that the Energy and Natural Resources Committee would not consider any climate change legislation until 2007.

The Bush Administration continues to promote its “Asian Pacific Partnership” which aims to act as a voluntary initiative to the Kyoto Protocol focusing on technology and innovation to reduce greenhouse gas emission levels. The partnership includes Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and the United States. Industry sector groups from these nations have been meeting to map out technology strategies to reduce emissions.

NPRA Position

NPRA believes that U.S. climate change policies should: require that future climate change decisions be scientifically justified, cost-effective and appropriately prioritized; not artificially raise the cost of energy to the American public by using “transferable credits” or cap-and-trade programs that may result in inequitable solutions; encourage new and innovative technologies as voluntary options for addressing climate change issues; acknowledge that the current U. S. greenhouse gas emissions inventory meets our current policy needs and that further government action to monitor greenhouse gas reporting should be voluntary and recognize emissions reductions already achieved by industry; not subject carbon dioxide to a regulatory regime, as it is not a criteria pollutant under the Clean Air Act and should not become one in the future; encourage carbon sequestration projects that will eliminate carbon from the atmosphere; identify NPRA venues to share information on climate change and greenhouse reporting programs with NPRA members.

Background

Climate change is a complex and long-term public policy challenge that must be addressed with realistic, long-term strategies that recognize the vital role energy plays in maintaining our country’s freedom, economic strength and way of life. U.S. climate change policy must adhere to strong environmental goals and recognize that the science of climate change is still tentative and evolving. Policy should be based on cost-effective regulatory approaches that maintain the competitiveness of U.S. refiners and petrochemical producers in the marketplace and allow them to provide needed petrochemical and fuel supplies. The climate change debate occurring today has endured for many years and will continue for many years to come. The U.S. government has committed considerable funds to climate change research and programs to mitigate greenhouse gases.