DC Hill Update 12/02: Getting Ready for Copenhagen

Last week, President Obama announced that he would attend part of the Copenhagen climate summit in Denmark. Healthcare, financial regulation, and a "jobs" bill remain before climate on the Congressional agenda, but Senator Kerry (D-MA) has said that he expects action on climate early in Spring and he is expected to release a framework with Senators Graham (R-SC) and Lieberman (I-CT) in early January.

1. December Climate Timeline

With the holiday season approaching, the Senate has a maximum of three more weeks of session before winter recess.

• Senate in session (floor time for health care): Nov. 30 - Dec. 23
• UN Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen, COP15 : Dec. 7 - Dec.18
• Senate winter recess (projected): Dec. 24 - Jan. 4, 2010

While Senate action slowly moves forward, 1Sky has organized a nationwide petition with tens of thousands of signatures calling for President Obama to "step up" on climate by pushing the Senate to deliver a strong bill and attend the Copenhagen negotiations (success!).

Hundreds of 1Sky volunteer-led events have taken place over the last month with friends and neighbors in just about every state nationwide to make art for the climate, urging senators to pass a strong bill, and urging President Obama to lead the way.

2. Obama Commits to Attend Copenhagen Climate Summit, and Will Negotiate on a 17% 2020 Target

Last Wednesday, President Obama announced that he will attend the Copenhagen Climate Negotiations next week, and bring along with him a commitment to reduce U.S. global warming pollution "in the range of" 17% by 2020. The president is optimistic that his presence in Copenhagen could seal a meaningful (though not necessarily legally binding) climate deal, meeting the standard that Obama previously set for his attendance.

Attending Copenhagen is a commitment that 1Sky and others have been demanding of the President for months. President Obama's presence has potentially positive ramifications for both the international negotiations and legislation in the U.S. Senate. 1Sky’s Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell will be in Copenhagen December 6-19, blogging daily and working with allies globally to activate our growing base here in the United States to urge President Obama and the US delegation to lead. To follow Gillian’s daily blogs in Copenhagen, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/gillian1Sky or go to www.1sky.org/cop15posts to see posts.

The 17% target Obama is committing to is pulled directly from the house-passed ACES, or Waxman-Markey, bill. 1Sky urges President Obama to push the Senate for more, and highlight the fact that current science demands we do more. The full 1Sky reaction is here.

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), a key climate swing vote, is worried that the Administration will preemptively commit the US to a binding treaty without a Senate-passed bill. Webb has not been supportive of the Kerry-Boxer climate bill passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee last month.

Senator John Kerry (D-MA), was glad to hear Obama's commitment to firm reduction targets, and is pushing the administration to put $3 billion in short-term international finance on the table to help developing countries adapt to climate change, and reduce emissions before the U.S. bill kicks in in 2012. This type of financing is crucial to achieving an equitable global deal that developing countries will buy into.

3. Senate Climate Bill Timing

Before Thanksgiving, Senator Kerry committed to unveiling a "blueprint" this week for the bill he is working on with Senators Graham (R-SC) and Lieberman (I-CT). However, in recent conversations with the press he has backed off the idea of a public release this week, but has noted that their negotiations will continue behind the scenes. According to E&E news, Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman probably won't release the blueprint until more fence-sitting senators commit to co-sponsor their efforts.

Before thanksgiving, Kerry spoke of Senate passage "early spring.” 1Sky continues to drive thousands of calls into the Senate urging bold action now; the planet cannot wait. Make a toll-free call to your senators today.

4. Healthcare, Financial Regulatory Reform, and a "Jobs" bill

Healthcare: Debate on the Senate healthcare bill began on Monday. Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) has threatened to keep the Senate in session on weekends for the next three and a half weeks in order to pass the bill by Christmas.

Financial Regulatory Reform: The House is poised to pass the last two of eight financial oversight bills today. Meanwhile, the Senate is still debating Senator Dodd's (D-CT) recent proposal in the Banking Committee that he chairs. Senate leaders hope to pass financial regulatory reform early next year.

The "Jobs" Bill: House Leadership has announced plans to pass a "jobs" bill, or second stimulus, before the holiday recess. The Senate is busy debating healthcare at the moment, but reports indicate that the Senate hopes to take up the jobs bill early next year as well.

What this means for climate bill timing: With such a packed spring schedule, all three of these bills would need to pass in rapid succession if the climate bill is to come up for serious Senate consideration before the midterm election campaign season begins, which typically begins in late spring in preparation for elections in the Fall of 2010. Most analysts believe a climate and energy package is too controversial to come to a vote after campaign season begins. 1Sky will continue to build pressure from the grassroots necessary to secure passage of the strongest possible climate bill in the Senate this spring.

Prepared by Jason Kowalski from 1Sky’s policy team. Please direct questions or comments to jason@1sky.org.