On October 30, 2003, the Senate showed surprisingly strong support for the Climate Stewardship Act with 43 senators voting in favor of the business-friendly bill (S. 139). Though a loss, the 43-to-55 vote demonstrates that our country is within reach of passing legislation that would protect the Earth's climate without risking economic setbacks. This recent October surprise sent a clear message that support is growing in Congress for sensible, effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas pollution nationwide. It also marked a turning point in our campaign to "undo" global warming in that for the first time ever, senators are now on record as "for" or "against" a common sense, cost effective approach to this potentially devastating environmental threat. (See how your senator voted.

Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), who introduced the bill, plan to bring the bill back to Congress for a new vote soon, so prompt action is needed to keep the momentum going. Environmental Defense through our "Global Warming: Undo It" campaign and other efforts will continue to build support for new policies on local and national levels to reduce the threat of global warming, and we need your help.

McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act (S. 139):
While many leaders are stalling on one of the gravest environmental threats of our time, Senators McCain and Lieberman have broken the logjam of federal inaction on global warming. Their historic bill is the first real blueprint for a comprehensive national policy for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. This bipartisan bill is poised to be the most important piece of environmental legislation to reach the Congress in decades and will help shape the debate over climate policy for years to come, focusing attention in the near term on global warming in next year's presidential race.

• Sets mandatory greenhouse gas pollution reductions:
  All major sectors of the U.S. economy would limit greenhouse gas pollution to year 2000 levels by 2010. The Bush administration, in contrast, has called only for "voluntary" pollution reductions. Mandatory targets are the only way to achieve meaningful greenhouse gas reductions. Voluntary efforts are important but not enough to keep us from losing ground.

• Makes U.S. Economy More Energy Efficient:
  Real greenhouse gas pollution cuts cannot be made without an effective plan for making the U.S. economy more energy efficient. This bill will encourage companies to make new investments in energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy.

• Uses free-market incentives to lower costs, grow the economy and promote innovation:
  The bill takes an approach first developed by Environmental Defense for the federal acid rain program, which helped achieve larger acid rain reductions than required at far lower costs than ever imagined. By taking this same approach, the McCain-Lieberman bill will reduce greenhouse gas pollution while stimulating innovation in the service of environmental protection.

• Breaks Logjam of U.S. Inaction to Fight Global Warming:
  For years, the federal government has resisted taking real action to tackle global warming. The McCain-Lieberman bill is the best chance for creating a legitimate U.S. climate policy.

To read a copy of the bill (S. 139), Click Here