In remarks delivered this afternoon, President Bush announced a new intermediate national goal for stopping the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. The goal would be accomplished by encouraging technological innovation with “long-lasting” “technology-neutral” and “carbon-weighted” incentives for the most promising low-emissions energy technologies. The President further emphasized the role for innovation in second generation fuels and focused on solutions including nuclear and clean coal to ensure that power sector greenhouse gas emissions peak within 10 to 15 years.

The President recognized the need for a coordinated regulatory approach to managing greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that the major federal environmental laws (e.g., the Clean Air Act) were not designed to regulate global climate change. The President called on Congress, in its climate debates scheduled for later this year, to take an approach to regulation that sets “realistic goals for reducing emissions consistent with advances in technology,” promotes “more emission-free nuclear power,” “encourages the investments necessary to produce electricity from coal without releasing carbon into the air,” and ensures that “all major economies are bound to take action and to work cooperatively with our partners for a fair and effective international climate agreement.”

Citing this week’s Major Economies Meeting in Paris, the President called for the “meaningful participation of every major economy” in any future climate agreement, and proposed that countries set individual national goals in the context of an “environmentally effective, economically sustainable” global treaty.

Reactions to the President’s Announcement:

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT): “I share the President’s preference of a market-based approach over carbon taxes. I remain encouraged by EPA’s finding last month that the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act will achieve strong results in curbing global warming without imposing economic hardship on Americans. I don’t think that the President’s statement will have any negative impact on our efforts to attract votes to the Climate Security Act on the Senate floor this June. I remain confident about the prospects of this critical legislation.” (Sen. Joe Lieberman, “Lieberman, Warner Respond to President’s Speech on Climate Policy,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Sen. John Warner (R-VA): “The President’s announcement today that he supports measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. is welcome news as the Senate prepares to consider climate change legislation this summer. This personally delivered message is recognition that a growing problem faces America - and the world - caused by erratic fluctuations in climate, particularly temperature variations and rainfall patterns. I am pleased the President is prepared to engage on this vital issue, both on Capitol Hill and on the international stage.” (Sen. Joe Lieberman, “Lieberman, Warner Respond to President’s Speech on Climate Policy,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV): At this point, Sen. Reid has not commented on the President’s plan specifically. However, he has called for Senate action on climate legislation and Senate debate on such legislation is expected in June.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) acknowledged that members of his party are of different minds on the issue and took a wait-and-see approach to the president’s plan.” (Steven T. Dennis, “GOP Eyes Bush Emissions Plan,” Roll Call, 4/16/08)

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA): “The President’s plan to have America stand by while greenhouse gases reach dangerous levels and threaten America and the world is worse than doing nothing - it is the height of irresponsibility. I strongly believe that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee bill will not only make our nation a leader in the global warming challenge, but it will trigger an American economic renaissance.” (Sen. Barbara Boxer, “Boxer Statement on Bush Global Warming Announcement,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK): “I applaud the President for outlining a bold alternative climate initiative that rejects the concept that the United States must adopt economically ruinous cap-and-trade legislation such as the Lieberman-Warner bill that would significantly drive up the already skyrocketing cost of energy on the American public. Today, as American families and American workers are faced with an economic downturn, the slumping housing market, and rising gas prices, they are unlikely to tolerate a ‘de-stimulus’ climate bill that will not have the sponsors’ purported impact on temperatures but will further exacerbate economic pain.” (Sen. James Inhofe, “Inhofe Praises President Bush for Rejecting Lieberman-Warner Bill,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN): “When the president of a nation that consumes 25 percent of the world’s energy recognizes climate change as a vital issue, that by itself is important. The president was right to suggest a sector-by-sector approach. A step-by-step, sector-by-sector approach will lead to fewer surprises, provide more realistic solutions, and is more likely to fit the family budgets of American households hit hard by rising electricity and gasoline prices. It’s time for government to take aggressive steps in a bipartisan fashion. (Sen. Lamar Alexander, “Alexander Calls for Sector-by-Sector Approach to Climate Change,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): “After seven years of denying the seriousness of the climate crisis and delaying tough action to save the planet, President Bush finally will discuss the subject this afternoon. With just nine months left in his term, the White House has already made clear that the President’s announcement today will not reverse his record on global warming before he leaves office.” (Rep. Nancy Pelosi, “Pelosi Statement on President’s Announcement on Climate Change,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH): “‘I think Republican members of the House of Representatives recognize that global climate change is a serious issue, and would support actions to address it, as long as those actions provide tangible environmental benefits to the American people and protect U.S. jobs,’ said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio.” (Stephen Dinan, “Bush to detail climate strategy,” The Washington Times, 4/16/08)

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI): “I am glad the President finally wants to engage on the issue of climate change. The best way for him to do that is by coming forward with a concrete legislative proposal.” (Rep. John Dingell, “Dingell Reacts to President’s Climate Address,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA): “I welcome today’s positive signal from the President that it is time to engage in a bi-partisan collaborative process in which Democrats and Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee will work together and work with the Administration to write and process through the Committee and the House a mandatory greenhouse gas control program. It is my hope that our Republican colleagues will interpret the President’s message as a signal to begin that process. It is important that a control program be enacted during the current year, and while there is still sufficient time to achieve that goal, for legislation to reach the President’s desk by the end of this Congress will require that the bill drafting process begin this spring.” (Rep. Rick Boucher, “Statement Of Congressman Boucher In Response To The President’s Remarks On Climate Change,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX): “Laws that were passed for, very different, reasons 20, 30 years ago are being applied to issues today that are not directly applicable … [I will never support a cap on carbon dioxide emissions] because I don’t think CO2 is a pollutant.” (”Bush Climate Change Plan Gets Poor Response From Dems,” CongressDaily, 4/16/08)

Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA): “President Bush’s remarks today on global warming continued his troubling pattern of kicking the can down the road when it comes to addressing the challenging problems facing our nation and the world. For nearly seven and a half years the Bush Administration has ignored the will of the American people and overwhelming scientific evidence on global warming by refusing to even acknowledge the problem. He continued that pattern today.” (Rep. Lois Capps, “Capps Chides President Bush for His ‘Day Late Dollar Short’ Approach to the Global Warming Crisis,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH): “House Republicans stand ready to work with the current President and future Presidents, as well as our Democratic counterparts in Congress, to advance responsible policies that will create jobs and promote clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. We are equally prepared to reject policies that will destroy jobs or limit freedom for American families.” (Rep. John Boehner, “Boehner Statement on the President’s Remarks on Climate Change,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD): “For more than seven years, President Bush’s position on climate change can best be defined as completely insufficient. The Administration has been largely dismissive of the overwhelming need to set a strong policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the very real and growing threat of global warming to our environment and to our security.” (Rep. Steny Hoyer, “Hoyer Statement on Bush Administration Climate Change Remarks,” Press Release, 4/16/08)

Additional reactions will be posted as they become available.

For further information about this topic, please contact Akin Gump.