Climate Plan Strives to Achieve 100% Clean Economy by 2050
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Chairman Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) recently released the legislative framework of the draft Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for the Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act – an ambitious new climate plan to ensure the United States achieves net-zero greenhouse gas pollution no later than 2050.
The CLEAN Future Act is a comprehensive proposal of sector-specific and economy-wide solutions to address the climate crisis that formally adopts the goal of achieving a 100% clean economy by 2050.
“Record wildfires, flooding, heat waves and drought have spelled out a dire reality: the climate crisis is here, and we can no longer afford to address this crisis along the margins. Today we are providing the kind of serious federal leadership this moment requires,” said Pallone. “This plan represents our commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas pollution. For the sake of the American people, the long-term sustainability of our economy, and public health, we must act boldly, and that is exactly what we intend to do.”
The framework is the result of the Committee’s ongoing work to tackle the climate crisis. The Committee held 15 hearings addressing the climate crisis, including seven focused on how best to facilitate deep decarbonization of various sectors of the economy. The draft legislation includes the following key sectors: power; building; transportation; industrial; national climate target for federal agencies; state climate plans; national climate bank; and environmental justice. For more information, read the full report.
The Committee is requesting feedback and recommendations from all stakeholders as it continues to expand and refine the CLEAN Future Act. To that end, hearings and stakeholder meetings will continue throughout the coming year. Potential 2020 hearing topics include adaptation and climate resilience, workforce and community transition, recycling and waste management, and international cooperation. Feedback can be submitted to [email protected].