[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 151 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12851-S12852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 312--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
NEED FOR THE UNITED STATES TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH THE 
      NEGOTIATION OF FAIR AND EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 312

       Whereas there is a scientific consensus, as established by 
     the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and confirmed 
     by the National Academy of Sciences, that the continued 
     buildup of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the atmosphere 
     threatens the stability of the global climate;
       Whereas there are significant long-term risks to the 
     economy and the environment of the United States from the 
     temperature increases and climatic disruptions that are 
     projected to result from increased greenhouse gas 
     concentrations;
       Whereas the potential impacts of global climate change, 
     including long-term drought, famine, mass migration, and 
     abrupt climatic shifts, may lead to international tensions 
     and instability in regions affected and thereby have 
     implications for the national security interests of the 
     United States;
       Whereas the United States, as the largest economy in the 
     world, is also the largest greenhouse gas emitter;
       Whereas the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States 
     are currently projected to continue to rise;
       Whereas the greenhouse gas emissions of developing 
     countries are rising more rapidly than the emissions of the 
     United States and will soon surpass the greenhouse gas 
     emissions of the United States and other developed countries;
       Whereas reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the levels 
     necessary to avoid serious climatic disruption requires the 
     introduction of new energy technologies and other climate 
     friendly technologies, the use of which results in low or no 
     emissions of greenhouse gases or in the capture and storage 
     of greenhouse gases;
       Whereas the development and sale of climate-friendly 
     technologies in the United States and internationally 
     presents economic opportunities for workers and businesses in 
     the United States;
       Whereas climate-friendly technologies can improve air 
     quality by reducing harmful pollutants from stationary and 
     mobile sources, and can enhance energy security by reducing 
     reliance on imported oil, diversifying energy sources, and 
     reducing the vulnerability of energy delivery infrastructure;

[[Page S12852]]

       Whereas other industrialized countries are undertaking 
     measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which provides 
     the industries in those countries with a competitive 
     advantage in the growing global market for climate-friendly 
     technologies;
       Whereas efforts to limit emissions growth in developing 
     countries in a manner that is consistent with the development 
     needs of those countries could establish significant markets 
     for climate-friendly technologies and contribute to 
     international efforts to address climate change;
       Whereas the United States is a party to the United Nations 
     Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at New York May 
     9, 1992, and entered into force in 1994 (hereinafter referred 
     to as the ``Convention'');
       Whereas the Convention sets a long-term objective of 
     stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere 
     at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic 
     interference with the climate system;
       Whereas the Convention establishes that parties bear common 
     but differentiated responsibilities for efforts to achieve 
     the objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations;
       Whereas an effective global effort to address climate 
     change must provide for commitments and action by all 
     countries that are major emitters of greenhouse gases, 
     developed and developing alike, and the widely varying 
     circumstances among the developed and developing countries 
     may require that such commitments and action vary; and
       Whereas the United States has the capability to lead the 
     effort against global climate change: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     United States should act to reduce the health, environmental, 
     economic, and national security risks posed by global climate 
     change and foster sustained economic growth through a new 
     generation of technologies, by--
       (1) participating in negotiations under the United Nations 
     Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at New York May 
     9, 1992, and entered into force in 1994, and leading efforts 
     in other international fora, with the objective of securing 
     United States participation in agreements that--
       (A) advance and protect the economic and national security 
     interests of the United States;
       (B) establish mitigation commitments by all countries that 
     are major emitters of greenhouse gases, consistent with the 
     principle of common but differentiated responsibilities;
       (C) establish flexible international mechanisms to minimize 
     the cost of efforts by participating countries; and
       (D) achieve a significant long-term reduction in global 
     greenhouse gas emissions; and
       (2) establishing a bipartisan Senate observer group, the 
     members of which shall be designated by the chairman and 
     ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate, to--
       (A) monitor any international negotiations on climate 
     change; and
       (B) ensure that the advice and consent function of the 
     Senate is exercised in a manner to facilitate timely 
     consideration of any applicable treaty submitted to the 
     Senate.

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