WRI Applauds Historic Step by the U.S. House of Representatives

Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute congratulates Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA), and members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on their historic vote this evening to approve The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA).

”With this bill, the committee has seized a triple opportunity: to combat climate change, to enhance our nation’s security, and to unleash American ingenuity for building the economy of tomorrow. ACESA will spur new markets for clean energy and technology and provides a clear and ambitious goal to reduce U.S. emissions 80 percent by 2050.

“As a founding member of the United States Climate Action Partnership, WRI welcomes this important first step in fulfilling the partnership’s goal of ‘prompt enactment of national legislation in the U.S. to slow, stop, and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions over the shortest time reasonably achievable.’

“The bill provides new momentum for visits to China this weekend by both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry to advance critically important discussions on links between our nations’ climate policies and strategies.

“This is a crucial first step in the U.S. legislative journey, and WRI will continue urgently to pursue the passage of environmentally protective, economically sustainable, and fair climate legislation. We look forward to working with Congress as the legislative process continues on this critical issue.”