U.S. Climate & Energy Legislation

WRI works to inform Congress about the opportunities and impacts of legislative proposals that affect U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and to help shape federal policies that will lead the U.S. on a path of low-carbon growth.

The United States Congress has a critical role to play in reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions and positioning the United States to maintain its competitive position in a low-carbon global economy. Congress works in tandem with federal agencies like the EPA, state governments, and businesses to achieve needed and pledged reductions in greenhouse gases.

The non-partisan World Resources Institute works with committees and members of Congress throughout the House of Representatives and Senate to provide objective analysis of legislative proposals and their impacts. Explore the wide variety of resources we have available for congressional decision makers below:

Bill Summaries

112th Congress

Bills That Would Limit U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Act Authorities

111th Congress

Summary and Chart: Emissions Reductions Under Pollution Reduction Proposals in the 111th Congress

Bill	WRI Analysis
American Power Act (Kerry-Lieberman)	Summary
	Summary of Offset Provisions
	Summary of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) Provisions
Practical Energy and Climate Plan Act (Lugar)	Review of Emissions Reductions
American Clean Energy Leadership Act	Summary
Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal Act (Cantwell-Collins)	Summary
Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (Kerry-Boxer)	Summary
	Summary of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) Provisions
American Clean Energy and Security Act (Waxman-Markey) passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 26, 2009.	Summary
	Summary of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) Provisions
	Analysis of Allowances to the States
	Overview of Offset Quality
	A Closer Look at ACES

Testimony

All WRI Testimony on Energy and Climate

Date	Title	Witness
January 26, 2012	Testimony: China’s Prospects for Shale Gas and Implications for the U.S.	Sarah Forbes
April 4, 2011	Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power: The Transformation of China’s Energy System	Deborah Seligsohn
April 1, 2010	Testimony Before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China: Measuring, Monitoring, and Reporting Energy and Climate Data	Deborah Seligsohn
October 29, 2009	Testimony Before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Getting to Yes on Climate Change	Jonathan Lash
March 11, 2009	FutureGen And The Department of Energy’s Advanced Coal Programs	Sarah Forbes
March 10, 2009	Green and Mean: Can the U.S. Economy Be Both Climate Friendly and Competitive?	Rob Bradley
February 4, 2009	Testimony Before the Select Committee On Energy Independence and Global Warming	Rob Bradley
January 15, 2009	Statement To the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce	Jonathan Lash

Information and Analysis Tools

Good decision making depends on high-quality information. WRI has developed a range of products that provide valuable and easily accessible data to help decision makers effectively respond to climate change: