March 22, 2002
Last year, the United States withdrew from negotiations over the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement limiting emissions and seeking to curb global warming. More than 170 nations, including the entire European Union, Russia, and Japan, then went forward without the U.S. in creating a global permit trading system and in setting target goals for reductions. Recently, the Bush Administration released its own national plan to reduce emissions, relying on voluntary reporting and reductions with a goal of "slowing the growth of emissions."
"I do not believe voluntary limits will be sufficient. However, the president’s plan is on the table, and we believe that this is an opportune moment for the House International Relations Committee to take up this issue," said Lee. "We have an obligation to address this far-reaching environmental problem, and substantial evidence shows we can cut emissions while still growing the economy."
"The International Relations Committee should address the growing and well-documented problem of global climate change. The U.S., with 5% of the world's population, contributes 25% of all greenhouse gases, and we have a responsibility to the global community to reduce our impact on the planet's climate," said Blumenauer. "The effects of climate change will be felt not only in our weather and on the polar ice caps, but in our relations with other countries. This hearing would be an important step to deal with what is already becoming an international relations hurdle."
In August, tens of thousands of participants, including heads of State and Government, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups will convene in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to focus the world's attention and direct action toward meeting difficult challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.
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Members of International Relations Committee Urge Public Hearings on Global Warming
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), joined by 15 Democratic colleagues on the House International Relations Committee, sent a letter to committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) and to committee Ranking Member Tom Lantos (D-CA) urging them to hold a public hearing this year to learn more about the geopolitical, economic, and environmental impacts of global climate change and about proposed international remedies.Last year, the United States withdrew from negotiations over the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement limiting emissions and seeking to curb global warming. More than 170 nations, including the entire European Union, Russia, and Japan, then went forward without the U.S. in creating a global permit trading system and in setting target goals for reductions. Recently, the Bush Administration released its own national plan to reduce emissions, relying on voluntary reporting and reductions with a goal of "slowing the growth of emissions."
"I do not believe voluntary limits will be sufficient. However, the president’s plan is on the table, and we believe that this is an opportune moment for the House International Relations Committee to take up this issue," said Lee. "We have an obligation to address this far-reaching environmental problem, and substantial evidence shows we can cut emissions while still growing the economy."
"The International Relations Committee should address the growing and well-documented problem of global climate change. The U.S., with 5% of the world's population, contributes 25% of all greenhouse gases, and we have a responsibility to the global community to reduce our impact on the planet's climate," said Blumenauer. "The effects of climate change will be felt not only in our weather and on the polar ice caps, but in our relations with other countries. This hearing would be an important step to deal with what is already becoming an international relations hurdle."
In August, tens of thousands of participants, including heads of State and Government, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups will convene in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to focus the world's attention and direct action toward meeting difficult challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.
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