The choice of venue to unveil it on 10 June was notable: the American Enterprise Institute, a top conservative think tank in Washington. The Democrat co-sponsor of the 37-page
American Opportunity Carbon Free Act
, Senator Brian Schatz (Hawaii), admitted: “I never expected to be here,” adding “let's begin the discussion”. An environmental NGO would have been a more obvious choice of venue to launch the bill, however some conservatives do support a carbon tax, seeing it as a less…
US pledge for COP-21
The Obama administration has made its pledge for the UN climate conference in Paris in December. The US goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to between 26% and 28% below 2005 levels by 2030 using administrative actions based on existing legislation. The key measures are: the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule to curb emissions from existing power plants to be finalised this summer; new Department of Transportation rules to increase fuel efficiency standards of cars and trucks; and new Department of Energy measures to reduce methane leaks in the gas sector. Washington will contribute US$3 billion to the UN Green Climate Fund.
