1.This Act may be cited as
the Roadmap for Addressing Climate
Change in China and India Act of 2009
.
2.
(a)Congress finds that—
(1)the United
States, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of India are some of
the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases;
(2)a global solution
to climate change requires action by all 3 countries that is commensurate with
their national circumstances and level of economic development;
(3)awareness of
steps each country is taking to reducing emissions is critical in building
confidence in a cooperative approach to climate change; and
(4)understanding
challenges each country faces in reducing emissions can help identify areas of
potential collaboration.
(b)The
purposes of this Act are—
(1)to provide
Congress and the American public with a better understanding of the steps China
and India are taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
(2)to identify the
means by which the United States can assist China and India in achieving such a
reduction.
3.Interagency
China and India climate change and energy report
(a)The Secretary of Energy, working with the interagency
task force established under subsection (b), shall prepare an interagency
report on climate change and energy policy in the People’s Republic of China
and in the Republic of India.
(b)
(1)The
Secretary of Energy shall establish an interagency task force, which shall
consist of—
(A)the Secretary of
Energy;
(B)the Secretary of
State;
(C)the Secretary of
Commerce;
(D)the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(E)the Secretary of
the Treasury; and
(F)the head of any
other agency or department who has been selected by the Secretary of Energy to
participate in the task force.
(2)The
Secretary of Energy shall serve as chairperson of the interagency task
force.
(c)In preparing the report under subsection (a), the
interagency task force shall evaluate and include in the report, with respect
to the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India—
(1)the national or
subnational plans, policies, programs, laws, regulations, incentive mechanisms,
and other measures that are expected to result in, or have resulted in,
reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, including—
(A)a list of such
plans, policies, programs, laws, regulations, incentive mechanisms, and other
measures;
(B)a description of
progress made or expected in implementing such plans, policies, programs, laws,
regulations, incentive mechanisms, and other measures;
(C)estimates of the
reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions achieved or expected to
be achieved as a result of such plans, policies, programs, laws, regulations,
incentive mechanisms, and other measures; and
(D)recommended areas
in which United States capacity building or other support could assist the
People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India to improve implementation
or compliance with such plans, policies, programs, laws, regulations, incentive
mechanisms, or other measures, including proposals for funding such joint
activities;
(2)estimates, based
on the most recent information available to the interagency task force from
reliable public sources, of the quantity and types of energy used and
greenhouse gas emissions;
(3)a description of
the tools, methods, and procedures that are used for collecting and analyzing
data regarding energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at the national,
provincial, sectoral, and facility level, including—
(A)a comparison to
the methodologies used by the United States and prevailing international
practices;
(B)the expected
levels of uncertainty regarding the data so collected;
(C)the current
transparency of such tools, methods, and procedures; and
(D)recommended areas
in which United States capacity building or other support could assist the
People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India to improve such tools,
methods, and procedures, increase data transparency, and strengthen the
relevant governance framework, including proposals for funding such joint
activities;
(4)an assessment of
the state of knowledge of international, Chinese, and Indian best and current
technologies and practices to—
(A)improve the
efficiency of coal use in electricity generation;
(B)reduce the energy
use in industrial facilities, buildings, appliances, electronic equipment, and
other sectors, as appropriate;
(C)capture and store
carbon from facilities that utilize fossil fuels for energy production;
(D)produce renewable
energy, including wind, solar, small hydro, and geothermal energy; and
(E)implement more
sustainable transport systems and technologies; and
(5)the current
status of, and opportunities and recommendations for—
(A)cooperation on
technology transfer, joint research, development, deployment, and clean energy
technology trade between the United States, the People’s Republic of China, and
the Republic of India; and
(B)joint
opportunities for the development of intellectual property, including proposals
for financing such joint activities.
(d)Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit the report prepared under this
section to—
(1)the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate;
(2)the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
(3)the
Committee on Environment and Public Works
of the Senate;
(4)the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(5)the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House
of Representatives;
(6)the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(7)the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(e)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.