The Climate Stewardship Acts are a series of three acts introduced to the

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by Senator

John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American statesman and United States Navy, naval officer who represented the Arizona, state of Arizona in United States Congress, Congress for over 35 years, first as ...

( R- AZ) and Senator

Joseph Lieberman Joseph Isadore Lieberman (; February 24, 1942 – March 27, 2024) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States senator from Connecticut from 1989 to 2013. Originally a member of the Democratic Party, he was its nomine ...

( ID- CT), with a number of other co-sponsors. Their aim was to introduce a mandatory

cap and trade Carbon emission trading (also called carbon market, emission trading scheme (ETS) or cap and trade) is a type of emissions trading scheme designed for carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). A form of carbon price, carbon pricing ...

system for

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, as a response to the threat of

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climate change Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...

. All three acts failed to gain enough votes to pass through the senate.

Legislative history

2003 Climate Stewardship Act

The first Act (, ) was defeated in the

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by 55 votes to 43. If passed, it would have capped 2010 CO₂ emissions at the 2000 level. Residential and agricultural areas, as well as other areas deemed "not feasible", would be exempt. As such, approximately 85% of the United States' emissions would have been covered for the year 2000. The bill would have also established a

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at the

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for those studying

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Economic forecasts used to oppose climate legislation

The economic consultancy Charles River Associates produced forecasts showing a negative impact on employment of the Act. Their work was criticized in 2005 for using unrealistic economic assumptions and producing directionally incorrect estimates. A 2021 study concluded their work from the 1990s to the 2010s overestimated predicted costs and ignored potential policy benefits, and was often presented by politicians and lobbyists as independent rather than sponsored by the fossil fuel industry. Other papers published in the late 1990s by economists at

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(and later, in the 2010s, at

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), also with funding from the fossil fuel industry, produced similar conclusions.

2005 Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act

Under a slightly modified title, but with similar provisions, the Act () was reintroduced to a new

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. The Act now called for the federal government to play a lead role in researching and commercialising new energy technologies, and particularly

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designs. This bill also would provide for the trading of emission allowances and reductions as Climate Change Credits. The bill was defeated 38 Yea to 60 Nay.

Climate Change Credit Corporation

Allocation of special Emission Permits by the Climate Change Corporation (to be created as part of the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act) was intended to provide funding for assistance for consumers and industry to fully comply with the act. Permits would be allocated to support the activities of a Climate Change Credit Corporation, a combination public and private agency that would oversee the cap and trade program, provide credit (Climate Change Credits) to participating entities for reductions in the total greenhouse gases made before 2012, and to facilitate transition for industries with competitiveness concerns and fewer options for efficient energy reduction technology. These credits are limited but can be used, bought, or sold.

2007 Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act

The substantial strengthening of this Act () involved the provision for the emissions cap, immobile in previous Acts, to be gradually reduced, following the theory of contraction and convergence. It was co-sponsored by eleven senators and also received endorsements from the

National Wildlife Federation The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the United States, with over six million members and supporters, and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations (i ...

, Environmental Defense, and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, now the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Reductions in emissions under the Act would be to 2004 levels by 2012, 1990 levels by 2020, and 60% below 1990 by 2050. The 60% target is the level posited for the forthcoming UK Climate Change Bill. The Act died after being referred to committee, without a vote of the full Senate.

References

External links

American Prospect Online

Status of the Acts at GovTrack.us
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act United States proposed federal environmental legislation John McCain Emissions trading Proposed legislation of the 108th United States Congress Proposed legislation of the 109th United States Congress Proposed legislation of the 110th United States Congress