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Climate Bill Rollercoaster Continues

congress


This week has been full of ebbs and flows if you have been following the climate bill now making its way through congress.

At the beginning of the week, things were a bit up in the air.

House Democrats had trouble agreeing on various details of the bill, including:

which government agency - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Agriculture Department - should manage projects that pay farmers to conduct environmentally friendly conservation practices.


As things got hairier and many wondered if the bill would be passed before July 4th recess, President Obama urged Congress to figure it out.

Nevertheless, it looks like the bill - which includes "a 17 percent reduction of greenhouse gases - mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels such as coal - by 2020 from 2005 levels and about an 80 percent reduction by mid-century" - will pass during the Friday vote, though even some environmental groups still aren't on board.

Read More:

  • House Climate Bill Remains in Holding Pattern (New York Times)
  • Obama urges passage of "historic" climate change bill (Reuters)
  • Controversial deals made to move climate bill (MSNBC)


How Much Would You Pay to Save the World?



The climate bill news has also led to a very interesting discussion about how much each individual is going to have to "pay" to keep damaging climate change in check.

Though an MIT report said that the cost could be up to $3,100 per family each year, that has been sort of debunked in recent weeks. Then reports surfaced this week that the cost looks to be more like $175 per on average, where the more wealthy citizens could pay up to $245.

What Do You Think?



Are you willing to help foot the bill to stop global climate change?

Read More:

  • True or False? Carbon Regulation Will Cost You $3,100 (The Daily Green)
  • Would You Pay $175 to Save the Climate? (The Daily Green)
  • Estimated costs of climate bill released (MSNBC)


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