Legislation in the 108^th Congress Related to Global Climate Change

During the 108^th Congress (2003-2004), nearly 100 bills, resolutions, and amendments specifically addressing global climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were introduced. The bills, resolutions, and amendments focused primarily on global climate change research and comprehensive emissions cap and trade programs.  Additional bills concentrated on GHG reporting and power plant emissions of CO_2.

The bills, resolutions, and amendments addressing global climate change and GHG emissions are listed here in the following categories:

Full list of Bills:

• GHG Emission Limits [1]
• GHG Emission Reporting [2]
• International Negotiations [3]
• Transportation Emissions [4]
• Climate Science Research [5]
• Climate-Friendly Technology R&D [6]
• Agriculture & Carbon Sequestration [7]
• Buildings [8]

The bills are also listed in numerical order in the 108th Congress Index of Bills [9].

Overview of Bills

As the scientific evidence of climate change has mounted, so has congressional activity.  The number of climate change-related legislative proposals increased from seven introduced in the 105th Congress (1997-1998) to 25 in the 106th Congress (1999-2000), to over 80 in the 107th Congress (2001-2002), and 96 in the 108th Congress (2003-2004). 

Climate change measures are increasingly being offered by members of both the Democratic and Republican Parties (to which all but two members of Congress belong).  The growing interest suggests that a bipartisan consensus is developing around the need to address climate change.  Addressing climate change will ultimately require a more comprehensive set of approaches, including a mandatory program to reduce GHG emissions (such as a program to cap GHG emissions and allow trading of emission credits), and efficiency standards to promote the use of efficient products and technologies .  Enactment of such policy will no doubt be a longer-term proposition.