Climate Action in Congress

U.S. Climate Change Legislation

As the scientific evidence of climate change has mounted, so has Congressional activity. Members of the 110^th Congress (2007-2008) are introducing legislation related to global climate change at a faster pace than any previous Congress. As of March 2008, lawmakers had introduced more than 195 bills, resolutions, and amendments specifically addressing global climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—compared with the 106 pieces of relevant legislation the previous Congress submitted during its entire two-year (2005-2006) term. The Pew Center has analyzed major economy-wide cap-and-trade legislation proposed in the 110th Congress.

Addressing the challenge of climate change will ultimately require enactment of a comprehensive set of approaches, and will no doubt be a long-term proposition. On December 5, 2007, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee became the first full Congressional committee to approve a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade measure. This bill, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, is scheduled to be debated by the full Senate in June 2008.

In the House, the Energy and Commerce Committee is also preparing climate change legislation and has produced white papers concerning key issues of comprehensive climate change legislation. The Pew Center issued a response to the paper concerning competitiveness and developing country engagement.

Visit this section often to stay up to date on legislation and Congressional activity regarding global climate change.