Issue Position: Climate Change

Issue Position

Global climate change presents one of the gravest threats to our planet's health, and to America's economy, national security, and public health. Senator Markey is a national leader on energy, the environment, and climate change and has authored legislation that address the energy, economic and national security challenges associated with increasing carbon pollution. In 2009, then-Rep. Markey partnered with Rep. Henry Waxman to introduce the landmark Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, the only comprehensive climate change bill ever to pass a chamber of Congress. The legislation slashed global warming emissions 17 percent by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050. Markey authored the renewable electricity standard in the bill that said by 2020, 20 percent of America's electricity should come from renewable sources.

Senator Markey is lead co-Chair of the Senate Climate Clearinghouse and is co-Chair of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change with Reps. Henry A. Waxman, Bobby L. Rush, and Earl Blumenauer and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, and Ben Cardin. He is a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force. From 2007-2010, Markey served as Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

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