Letter: League of Women Voters urges climate legislation improvement

The League of Women Voters calls on U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill to take strong action against global climate change and move our nation toward an economically secure energy future.

Soon after Memorial Day, the Senate will take up “America’s Climate Security Act,” legislation that will establish the basic framework necessary to curtail the pollution causing global warming.

The League believes the legislation should be improved in four ways:

• Pollution reduction goals must be based on the best science. Advances in scientific knowledge indicate the need for quicker and greater reductions in pollution.

• Economic efficiency is essential. We should not be subsidizing polluting industries. Instead, we must speed the transition to renewable energy and stimulate conservation and energy-efficient technologies.

• Our nation must move quickly to a clean-energy economy. There is tremendous economic opportunity in reforming the way Americans use and produce energy.

• Fairness is needed. We must protect vulnerable groups and help to spur worldwide action against global warming.

Opponents will offer amendments that will create loopholes in the legislation. These must be strongly resisted.

Global climate change is one of the most serious threats to the environment, health and economy of our nation. Recent scientific studies show that global warming is already causing environmental changes that will have significant global economic and social impacts. It is time for strong, decisive action. We urge Senator Bond and Senator McCaskill to help lead our nation toward effective solutions.