美國幾家大企業和5大環境團體領袖15日聯合向國會陳情，希望能針對氣候變遷儘速立法；民主黨議員接獲陳情後表達認同之意，認為此議題刻不容緩，承諾會立即採取行動。
在眾院能源與貿易委員會針對氣候變遷召開2009年第一場公聽會前，美國氣候行動聯盟(U.S. Climate Action Partnership)便已呼籲美國應在2050年之前，透過全面總量管制與交易制度(cap-and-trade programm)，將溫室氣體排量減低到2005年的20%。
美國氣候行動聯盟成員之一、奇異(GE)執行長伊梅特(Jeff Immelt)表示：「美國過去曾向世界證明，即使在艱困時期，我們仍有意志和能力投資創新。」
世界資源協會主席拉許(Jonathan Lash)認為：「經濟體系的健全無可避免地繫於氣候安全，而環境並不會提出紓困方案。」
「美國氣候行動聯盟已經提出可行方案，」拉許進一步說明：「如果這個成員殊異的結盟都能覓出共識，國會同樣也能通過立法。」
能源與貿易委員會主席、加州眾議員沃克斯曼(Henry Waxman)表明，他的目標是在美國陣亡將士紀念日前，全面通過氣候和能源立法。
經過2年深入分析並凝聚共識，26名美國氣候行動聯盟成員和5個環境團體提出的「立法行動藍圖」(Blueprint for Legislative Action)，在委員會召開之前揭櫫內容，包括透過經濟系統強制執行碳排放總量管制與交易制度，控制主要的溫室氣體二氧化碳排放量。
在總量管制與交易制度下，政府機關先設定一個合法排氣總量上限，發給各公司合法的碳排放額度，公司只要能使排放量低於上限，便可以出售碳排放額度。
美國氣候行動聯盟結合總量管制與交易制度和成本控制，再加上配套政策鼓勵聯邦科技研發、碳科技、交通運輸、建築和提高能源效率。
美國氣候行動聯盟的立法目標和時間表，與美國總統當選人歐巴馬不謀而合。
歐巴馬在11月18日對兩黨州長會議的談話中表示：「只有面對，沒有耽延。」
12月，歐巴馬對聯合國在波蘭召開的氣候會議發表錄影帶談話，他說他將在氣候變遷上「開啟新頁」，實施全國性總量管制與交易制度。
The heads of some of America's largest corporations together with the leaders of five of the country's largest environmental groups today presented a joint plan to Congress for climate protection legislation. Congressional Democrats met their call for immediate action with assurances that they agree - there is no time for delay.
Testifying before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the first congressional hearing of 2009 on climate change, members of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership called for a reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent of 2005 levels by 2050 through an economy-wide cap-and-trade program.
"In the past, the U.S. has proven that we have the will, the capabilities and the courage to invest in innovation - even in difficult times," said Jeff Immelt, chairman and chief executive of General Electric, one of the USCAP partners.
"The health of our economy and the safety of our climate are inextricably linked, except nature doesn’t do bail-outs," said Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute.
"USCAP has redefined what is possible," said Lash. "If the diverse membership of USCAP can find common ground, Congress can agree on effective legislation."
Committee chair Congressman Henry Waxman of California said his goal is to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation in the committee before the Memorial Day recess
Developed through two years of intensive analysis and consensus-building among USCAP's 26 corporations and five environmental groups, the "Blueprint for Legislative Action" aired before the committee today sets forth steps for creating a mandatory, economy-wide cap-and-trade program for the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
Under a cap-and-trade system, a government authority first sets a cap, deciding how much pollution in total will be allowed. Next, companies are issued credits, essentially licenses to pollute. If a company comes in below its cap, it has extra credits which it can trade with other companies.
USCAP's plan couples the cap-and-trade program with cost containment measures and complementary policies addressing a federal technology research development and deployment program, coal technology, and transportation, as well as building and energy efficiency.
The targets and timetables in the USCAP legislative proposal are consistent with the schedule proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.
In his November 18 address to a bipartisan conference of governors, Obama said, "Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all. Delay is no longer an option."
In December, in a video address to the United Nations climate conference in Poland, Obama said he would open a "new chapter" on climate change, starting with a national cap-and-trade system.
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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.
