[Download] "Climate Change and U.S. Competitiveness: We Need to Move to a Low-Carbon, Energy-Efficient Economy, But We Also Need to Be Sure That We Don't Lose Critical Manufacturing Sectors in the Process." by Issues in Science and Technology # eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Climate Change and U.S. Competitiveness: We Need to Move to a Low-Carbon, Energy-Efficient Economy, But We Also Need to Be Sure That We Don't Lose Critical Manufacturing Sectors in the Process.
- Author : Issues in Science and Technology
- Release Date : January 22, 2009
- Genre: Engineering,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 229 KB
Description
The Obama administration and Congress have been grappling with how to craft legislation that addresses the looming threat of global warming while reducing U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources. In June 2009, the House passed a climate change bill that would establish an economy-wide cap-and-trade system, aimed at reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by economic activity in the United States. The Senate is now working on its own bill. Naysayers about the threat of climate change aside, the House legislation faced opposition from a number of Democrats, not just Republicans, worried about its potentially harmful economic effects on U.S. businesses, workers, and communities. Similar concerns are being expressed in the Senate debate. A climate bill that places a charge on carbon-based greenhouse gas emissions would drive up fossil fuel energy prices, with most of the increase being passed along to energy users. In theory, this would encourage a shift to lower carbon-based energy generation and greater energy efficiency throughout the economy. But many in Congress fear that these higher energy costs could impose new economic burdens on their constituents and hurt the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, resulting in the loss of jobs in their states and districts. These concerns particularly resonate in the wake of the current financial crisis and recession.