Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?A Congressional PerspectiveA Congressional Perspective

Ana Unruh Cohen, Ph.DAna Unruh Cohen, Ph.D

House Select Committee on Energy House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global WarmingIndependence and Global Warming

August 13, 2008August 13, 2008

Cartoon by Marc Roberts for Nature Reports Climate Change

Cap-and-Trade LegislationCap-and-Trade LegislationShould Matter to YouShould Matter to You

Shift to auctioning = new revenuesShift to auctioning = new revenues Opportunities for climate scienceOpportunities for climate science

– Understanding catastrophic events like Arctic Understanding catastrophic events like Arctic methane release, Greenland ice sheet meltingmethane release, Greenland ice sheet melting

– Are policies working? (in conjunction with Are policies working? (in conjunction with periodic reviews)periodic reviews)

– Adaptation; increasing resilience both physical Adaptation; increasing resilience both physical and economicand economic

Should not be a substitute but source of new funds for activities that support climate legislation

Expand OutreachExpand Outreach

Framework will be Framework will be built in Energy and built in Energy and Environment Environment CommitteesCommittees

Need to Cultivate Need to Cultivate ChampionsChampions

Educate LeadershipEducate Leadership

Cultivate AlliesCultivate Allies

AAAS, AGU, GSA, etcAAAS, AGU, GSA, etc AcademiaAcademia Public Health GroupsPublic Health Groups NGOsNGOs Water Utility Climate Alliance, African-Water Utility Climate Alliance, African-

American and Latino climate groupsAmerican and Latino climate groups

“If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

-- Yogi Berra

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

-- Thomas Edison

More InformationMore Information

www.globalwarming.house.govwww.globalwarming.house.gov

www.house.gov/markeywww.house.gov/markey