The Climate Stewardship Acts

The Climate Stewardship Acts were a series of acts introduced in the 108th United States Congress. Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the first bill in 2003. It was followed in 2004 by a House companion of the bill introduced by Representatives Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) and John W. Olver (D-MA). Starting in 2010, the both bills would have capped greenhouse gas emissions of the electricity generation, transportation, industrial, and commercial economic sectors at the 2000 level, while providing for market-based trading of emission allowances.

"I applaud Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) and John Olver (D-MA) for their introduction of The Climate Stewardship Act. By starting with a modest cap on U.S. emissions and providing for market-based trading, this bill will reduce emissions while not placing undue hardship on U.S. companies."

-Eileen Clasussen, President
Pew Center on Global Climate Change

Understanding the Climate Stewardship Acts

• Summary of Gilchrest-Olver Climate Stewardship Act, 2004
• Summary of Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act, 2003
• Summary of MIT Analysis of Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act - An economic analysis of the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act cap-and-trade program performed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. Also applies to Gilchrest-Olver cap-and-trade program.
• EIA's Assesments
  • Summary of EIA Analysis of the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act, 2003
  • Modified assestment of EIA Analysis of the amended Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act - This amended version, which would hold U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at year 2000 levels by 2010, was considered by the U.S. Senate in October 2003.
  • Assessment of EIA Analysis of the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act, 2003 - The EIA analysis represents an ambitious attempt to provide insights into possible costs related to S.139; however, it should be thought of as an upper bound of likely costs.
• Critique of the Charles River Associates Analysis of Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act

Additional Resources

• Report: Emissions Trading in the U.S.: Experience, Lessons and Considerations for Greenhouse Gases - A review of six diverse U.S. emissions trading programs.
• Report: Designing a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program for the U.S. - Options for designing a domestic greenhouse gas reduction program.
• Report: The Emerging International Greenhouse Gas Market - Characteristics of the growing international market for GHG emissions.
• Proceedings of the Aspen Institute/Pew Center Joint Conference - A diverse group of business, government, and environmental leaders recommends a framework for a possible mandatory greenhouse gas reduction program for the United States