Van Hollen: After Paris Agreement, "Cap and Dividend' Approach is Best Way Forward to Reduce Carbon Pollution

Statement

Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Co-Chair of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change, released the following statement on next steps to tackling climate change after the COP21 meeting of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change:

"The Paris agreement to take action against climate change was a historic step toward ensuring a safer planet for us and our future generations. With greenhouse gas pollution reduction targets designed to grow steadily more ambitious in the years ahead, the question now becomes what is the most effective way to meet those targets.

"I believe the answer is a market-based approach that makes the necessary reductions in climate-altering pollution while also benefiting America's struggling middle class. I've put forward the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act, which would put a market-based price on carbon, auction pollution permits to sellers of oil, coal, and natural gas, and return 100 percent of auction proceeds in the form of a Healthy Climate Dividend to every American with a valid social security number. This would increase annual income for an estimated 80 percent of American households. It's a simple plan, and one that is vitally necessary if we're going to turn the diplomatic achievement in Paris into progress for our planet."

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