Markey: U.S. Emissions Targets Reflect Congressional Action

House-passed Waxman-Markey Bill, Obama Admin. Show Consistency in U.S. Position

The global warming emission reduction targets submitted today by the United States to the United Nations reflect the targets passed by the House in the Waxman-Markey clean energy and climate bill. The targets submitted today are part of the Copenhagen Accord process. The U.S. submission includes targets of 17 percent below 2005 emission levels by 2020, 30 percent by 2025, 42 percent by 2030, and 83 percent by 2050, which mirrors the emissions reduction pathway in Waxman-Markey.

Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Waxman-Markey bill and chair of twin climate and energy panels in the House, made the following statement:

"Waxman-Markey provided the Obama administration with the guideposts for emission reductions, and now the Obama administration is trying to guide the world towards an effective agreement that expands clean energy as it cuts pollution. American leadership is back on the map in this planetary effort.

"Waxman-Markey will create clean energy jobs here in the United States, while helping to create a united global front in the fight against the planetary challenge of climate change. The Senate now has the task of continuing this effort to create more clean energy jobs that can’t be sent overseas, and less carbon pollution that won’t be sent into the atmosphere.

"Last night, in his address to the nation, President Obama challenged Congress to pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill ‘that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.’ And like the president, we should not quit until this task is completed, and until we create more clean energy at home and less global warming around the world."

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