The U.S. Senate is currently deliberating the Lieberman Warner Climate Security Act in congress. This proposed legislation is in its early stages in the senate, with review in the Senate Environment and Public Works committee. To date, the legislation has broad bi-partisan support, with climate change couched in national security terms.
The bill outlines Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversight of a greenhouse gas registry and emission allowance for electric utilities and industrial sectors that run on petroleum or coal-based fuel. There are provisions in the bill for carbon offsets to sell, exchange, transfer or borrow emission allowances. This carbon market would have board oversight.
Funds would be set up for energy assistance, climate change worker training, an adaption fund for businesses struggling with the switch, and a national security fund to deal with climate change. The bill would set energy efficiency requirements for appliances and buildings. There would also be research and amendments to existing laws to allow for the underground sequestration of carbon.
Overall, I feel the outline and provisions of this bill are practical steps that take the threat of climate change seriously. Couching climate change as a threat to security seems like an interesting political move. Although I agree wholeheartedly about the possible societal disruptions from the dramatic pressures of climate change, I doubt there would be such starkly worded security language in this document if it was going before another administration.
A summary of the bill can be viewed online here.
