Boxer's principles: a good start

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Senator Barbara Boxer's climate change principles, which she announced in a press conference last Tuesday [2], are a solid basis for action to tackle the climate crisis. Senator Boxer is the Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee [3], and will be a key player on any legislation to stem global warming. (You can watch a replay of the press conference [4] on the committee's website.)

Much of the climate movement (including 1Sky) is organizing around making serious climate legislation a reality this year. Senator Boxer recognizes that the time is now for our leaders to pass climate change legislation. In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman, and Subcommittee Chair Edward Markey are in agreement that the time for serious climate legislation is now. We are hopeful that we can get a strong science-based emissions policy in line with the 1Sky solutions, which are based on the best science available.

One nice move on Senator Boxer's part is that the principles she announced yesterday are simple. The climate crisis is a simple problem: We pollute too much. The goal of climate policy is to reduce emissions.

Here are the principles [5] Senator Boxer unveiled earlier this week:

1. Reduce emissions to levels guided by science to avoid dangerous global warming.

2. Set short and long term emissions targets that are certain and enforceable, with periodic review of the climate science and adjustments to targets and policies as necessary to meet emissions reduction targets.

3. Ensure that state and local entities continue pioneering efforts to address global warming.

4. Establish a transparent and accountable market-based system that efficiently reduces carbon emissions.

5. Use revenues from the carbon market to:
- Keep consumers whole as our nation transitions to clean energy;
- Invest in clean energy technologies and energy efficiency measures;
- Assist states, localities and tribes in addressing and adapting to global warming impacts;
- Assist workers, businesses and communities, including manufacturing states, in the transition to a clean energy economy;
- Support efforts to conserve wildlife and natural systems threatened by global warming; and
-Work with the international community, including faith leaders, to provide support to developing nations in responding and adapting to global warming. In addition to other benefits, these actions will help avoid the threats to international stability and national security posed by global warming.

6. Ensure a level global playing field, by providing incentives for emission reductions and effective deterrents so that countries contribute their fair share to the international effort to combat global warming.