Global Warming: What You Need to Know

Legislation

Section-by-Section Summary of the Safe Climate Act

Sec. 1. Short Title

The short title of the bill is the Safe Climate Act.

Sec. 2. Findings and Sense of Congress

This section makes a series of findings regarding the scientific consensus on the threat posed by climate change, the impacts that have already been observed, the need for emissions reductions within a decade to protect against dangerous climate change, and the opportunities to reduce emissions while saving money and enhancing national security by using existing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

This section also expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should participate in international negotiations to secure agreements under the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreements should commit all major emitters of greenhouse gases to reduce emissions, consistent with their individual responsibilities, so as to avoid dangerous climate change and protect U.S. economic and national security interests.

Sec. 3. Amendments to the Clean Air Act

This section amends the Clean Air Act to add a Title VII on greenhouse gas emissions, as detailed below.

Sec. 701. Emission Reduction Targets

This section requires EPA to set annual emission reduction targets for total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions as follows: In 2010, emissions are frozen at the 2009 level. Beginning in 2011, emissions are cut by roughly 2% per year, falling to 1990 emissions levels by 2020. Beginning in 2021, emissions are cut by roughly 5% per year, falling to 80% below the 1990 emissions levels by 2050.

Download the complete Section-by-Section Summary of the Safe Climate Act (PDF)

Next: A summary of the Boxer substitute amendment to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act