FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CCL applauds Senate CBAM bill, hears from lead sponsor at conference
June 15, 2022 – Last week, a group of Senate Democrats released The Clean Competition Act, a bill that would impose a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on polluting nations. It would also set certain emissions standards domestically.
CCL applauds Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for introducing the legislation, and we appreciate his colleagues Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) for cosponsoring the bill.
“This legislation is a thoughtful approach to reducing emissions at home and abroad,” said Ben Pendergrass, Senior Director of Government Affairs. “American manufacturing is generally more carbon efficient than manufacturing in many other places around the world. A policy like this would reward American companies for their cleaner production and encourage international players to reduce emissions as well.”
With America’s two biggest trading partners — the EU and Canada — set to implement CBAMs of their own in the coming months, this type of legislation is critical to respond to international pressure and give American businesses a fair playing field.
Sen. Whitehouse addressed Citizens’ Climate Lobby advocates at the organization’s annual conference in D.C. this week. He discussed border adjustments, saying, “It goes beyond just solving our emissions problem in the United States. It creates economic conditions that drive other less efficient countries to have to catch up with us if they want to participate in the American marketplace.”
Sen. Whitehouse also praised CCL’s advocacy for the policy, saying, “We would not be in this position if you had not gotten on the phones, and come to Washington, and emailed, and done all the work that you did to put life and energy into carbon pricing and carbon border adjustments. We’re not there yet, but it is within reach, and the reason it is within reach is because of work you have already done.”
Video of the Senator’s full remarks at the Omni Shoreham Hotel on the evening of Monday, June 13, is available here.
CONTACT: Flannery Winchester, CCL Senior Director of Communications, 615-337-3642, flannery@citizensclimate.org
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