The House recently passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), an important step toward protecting our environment and building a clean energy economy.
ACES has generated a lot of strong opinions, for and against, especially in the environmental community. Now I personally helped start and run the Energy Action Coalition, the largest youth clean energy organization in the country but following the debate over the 1,200-page proposal has been confusing even for me.
In an open letter to the president and members of Congress, 20 of the top climatologists in the country wrote, "At its best it will be only a first step," and, "Call attention to the large difference between what U.S. politics now seems capable of enacting and what scientists understand is necessary to prevent climatic disruption and protect the human future."
I deeply respect individuals on both sides of the debate, and, in the end, I believe both sides are right. (Sounds strange…)
The science, at least, is pretty clear. The safe upper limit to atmospheric carbon dioxide is 350 parts per million (ppm). Right now, we're at 389 ppm and climbing. In its current form, ACES will not take us below 350. Most agree with that. On the other hand, the latest study by the Congressional Budget Office reports that ACES will create 1.7 million new jobs and save consumers more than $22 billion in 2020 alone. According to the Center for American Progress, by 2020 the act will have the same effect on global warming as removing 500 million cars from the road. That's nothing to sneeze at.
So I'm looking forward, not back. Ultimately our goals should be to avert a climate crisis and to build a vibrant clean energy economy. Does ACES bring us closer to reaching those goals? Yes. Will it bring us there on its own? Certainly not.
We need to strengthen ACES as much as possible before it becomes law. The oil and coal industries have spent heavily to weaken the proposal - $79 million lobbying Congress in just the first three months of 2009.
Second, we need to view ACES as the foundation of good national and international climate policy, not the final product. To truly jump-start a clean energy economy, we need a range of complementary policies. President Obama has already made headway in this area, most notably with the increase in fuel-economy standards.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we need to unite as a nation to face this challenge. If anyone in this country has proven able to inspire us to fully embrace our civic and moral responsibilities, it's President Obama. I believe that his leadership will stir the nation into action.
Billy Parish, age 27, is the founder of the Energy Action Coalition. Column provided by the American Forum.
