In Bali, U.N. hails U.S. Senate climate steps

[ProSense]

In Bali, U.N. hails U.S. Senate climate steps

By David Fogarty 1 hour, 35 minutes ago

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - The United Nations praised on Thursday a step by a U.S. Senate committee to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the world's top carbon emitter even as Washington reaffirmed opposition to mandatory caps.

"That's a very encouraging sign from the United States," Yvo de Boer, head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat, said at 190-nation U.N. talks in Bali, Indonesia, of a vote by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

His comments underscored the isolation of President George W. Bush's administration at the December 3-14 talks. Australia's new government ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Monday, leaving the United States as the only developed nation outside the pact.

<...>

The U.S. Senate committee voted 11-8 on Wednesday for legislation outlining a cap-and-trade system for industry, power generators and transport. The bill is headed for debate in the full Senate.

more

Energy Bill Gets Better

Submitted by Bill Scher on December 5, 2007 - 12:47pm.

In what, quite frankly, is a bizarre turn of events, the energy bill going to the House floor today will be even stronger than reported earlier.

The bill now includes $21 billion in tax credits for renewable energy, paid for by ending handouts to fossil fuel companies.

According to the AP:

The new tax revenues would be used to spur development of renewable fuels including multiyear extensions of solar and wind energy tax credits; tax credits for conservation and energy efficiency, and to recoup lost gasoline tax revenues because of the increased auto fuel efficiency.

Providing long-term credits to renewable energy is critical to attract further private investment and build the clean energy economy.

Congressional leaders upped the ante after President Bush threatened to veto the less ambitious version. Perhaps leaders recognized that the failed oilman cannot be reasoned with when it comes to energy policy, and can only be confronted with bold legislation.

more