For example, Australia finally passed their climate law to require mandatory carbon pollution reductions for major polluters, the U.S. has adopted aggressive vehicle standards and put on hold the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, and China has started to outline the detailed rules and regulations for meeting its binding energy and climate commitments in its 12th 5-year plan.
Europe favours cap-and-trade systems, which place a mandatory limit on pollution from countries, companies and even individuals, who must buy the right to pollute more.
The bill's loan guarantees for nuclear reactors, wasteful spending on coal carbon capture, and exemption of Big Ag from mandatory reductions in carbon pollution are all boons to polluting corporations.
The new policy on climate change has even been coupled by the president with his new proposal for a "Clean Skies Act" which aims to cut conventional air pollution using mandatory limits and pollution trading.
Yet I can't get past this reality: As ugly as the process has been, passage of this bill would mean we'd see billions of dollars invested in energy efficiency and renewable power, we'd see new green buildings sprouting up across America, and we'd see a path opened toward significant, mandatory reductions in carbon pollution.
(An aside: as a member of the House of Representatives, Jindal uncharacteristically voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution that endorsed the idea of mandatory limits on carbon pollution. In the context of his otherwise consistent opposition to climate action and his abysmal 6% LCV score, you almost wonder if this vote was a mistake).
Mr. Bush opposes any mandatory limits on carbon dioxide pollution from either source, preferring a voluntary approach.
He has also been criticized by the industry for proposing mandatory climate change legislation and pollution rules that would raise the cost of producing electricity and manufactured goods.
The government must set mandatory targets to reduce this pollution each year in line with a clear carbon budget to ensure that its strategy is kept on course.
Congress needs to pass a science-based bill that places mandatory limits on global-warming pollution and encourages increased efficiency, conservation and the use of renewable energy.
