The Waxman Letter

US Representative Henry Waxman, a strong proponent for environmental protection and human rights, has prepared a letter to be presented to the US House of Representatives this summer. Although Rep. Waxman's letter is not an official policy statement from Oxfam America, it does hit on some of the key "asks" that we are stressing in this campaign. A summary of the letter appears below.

Key Principles (Or Asks)

1. Reduce emissions to avoid dangerous global warming

   
   

   1. US must do its part to keep global temperatures from rising more then 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels

      
      

   2. Cap and cut global warming emissions. Targets are:

      
      

      1. Reduced to 15%-20% below current levels in 2020

         
         

      2. Reduced to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

         
         

   3. Make emission targets certain and enforceable

      
      

      1. Cost-containment measures must not break the cap on global warming pollution. Any offsets must be real, additional, verifiable, permanent, and enforceable.

         
         

   4. Require the United States to engage with other nations to reduce emissions through commitments and incentives.

      
      

2. Aid Communities and eco systems vulnerable to harm from global warming
   
   

   1. Assist states, localities and tribes to respond and adapt to the effects of global warming to respond to harm from global warming and adapt their infrastructure to its effects, such as more severe wildfires, intensified droughts, increased water scarcity, sea level rise, floods, hurricanes, melting permafrost, and agricultural and public health impacts.

      
      

   2. A portion of auction revenues should be provided to help the developing countries most vulnerable to harm from global warming and defuse the threats to national security and global stability posed by conflicts over water and other natural resources, famines, and mass
      migrations that could be triggered by global warming.

      
      

   3. Assist wildlife and ecosystems threatened by global warming.

      
      

3. Transition America to a clean energy economy

   
   

   1. A significant portion of revenues from auctioning emissions allowances should be invested in clean energy and efficiency measures

      
      

   2. Preserve states authorities to protect their citizens

      
      

4. Recognize and minimize and economic impacts from global warming legislation
   
   

   1. Use Cap and Trade

      
      

   2. Emissions allowances should be auctioned with the revenues going to benefit the public, and any free allocations should produce public benefits.

      
      

   3. Revenues from auctioned allowances should be returned to low- and moderate-income households at a level sufficient to offset higher energy costs.

      
      

   4. Return revenues to workers and communities.

      
      

   5. Protect against global trade disadvantages to U.S. industry.