多名經濟學者、企業領袖與環境人士13日一同參與美國參議院聽證會，他們表示，在處理全球暖化方面，美國事實上擁有即得利益，同時也擔負著道義責任。與會者鄭重呼籲美國立法者儘快強制限制溫室氣體排放，並且對外展現出美國願意帶領全球遏制氣候變遷的決心。
不過國會憂心地表示，既使美國強制執行削減溫室氣體排放的規範，一些如中國和印度等開發中國家，仍可能豁免自身的責任與義務。前世界銀行首席經濟學家史登（Nicholas Stern）則要求美國的立法國會認清一項事實：中國現在正向氣候變遷奮戰，與此同時也引頸期盼美國能表現出領導者的風範，並拿出對抗暖化的強硬作為。史登強調：「世界市場中最強的領導者，足以決定全球腳步的快慢」。
史登籲請國會頒行包括碳與排放交易之複合政策，不過他也承認，儘管後者的工作既複雜又漫遙，但是在政治上的可行性較高。史登認為，倘若立法者選擇追求溫室氣體限量管制與交易計劃，那麼目標非得帶有「野心」，並且建立一個普遍的系統，好與世界其他同質計劃接軌。
The United States has vested economic interests and a moral obligation to tackle global warming, economists, corporate leaders, and environmentalists told two Senate committees Tuesday. The panelists urged U.S. lawmakers to quickly impose mandatory restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions and to demonstrate that the United States is willing to lead a global effort to confront climate change.
But lawmakers voiced lingering concern about the United States enacting mandatory emission reductions absent obligations from developing nations, namely China and India. Former World Bank economist chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern called on U.S. lawmakers to recognize that China is taking steps to tackle climate change and also watching for the United States to act more aggressively and will go faster if the United States demonstrates leadership. "Leadership in the world's largest markets sets the pace elsewhere," Stern said.
Stern called for a mix of policies, including carbon taxes and emissions trading, but acknowledged that the latter is more politically feasible - even though it is a far more complex undertaking. If the lawmakers do pursue a cap and trade plan, Stern said, they should be "ambitious" with the targets and set up the system so that it can link with other similar plans underway in other parts of the world.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
