The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733)

 The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on October 1, is critical legislation that would reduce global warming pollution and invest in clean energy jobs. The House of Representatives passed similar legislation earlier this year, and a Senate bill is needed to move forward with a national effort to address the growing climate crisis.

Global warming is the greatest threat to the future of our rivers and communities. Rising temperatures will have a profound impact on the water resources that supply our basic needs, drive our economy and sustain healthy ecosystems. Across the country we are already witnessing more floods, droughts and water pollution as a result of the changing climate. If we do not take steps to limit global warming pollution in the near future, many communities will be unable to protect residents from extreme weather or provide a clean and consistent supply of water.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act is an important first step that would help us avoid the worst impacts of global warming. The bill would:

Create a market-based cap and trade system for global warming pollution that would require companies to lower their emissions or pay to reduce emissions elsewhere. The bill would lower CO₂ emissions 20% by 2050 and 83% by 2050.

• Create millions of green jobs in clean energy, energy efficiency and other sectors.
• Provide funding to help communities and wildlife prepare for the impacts of global warming.
• Preparing Communities and Wildlife more Floods, Droughts and Water Pollution

Communities and ecosystems are already experiencing the impacts of global warming through shifting precipitation patterns, more severe floods and droughts and rising levels of water pollution. Even if we stop all emissions today, these changes will continue for decades due to past global warming pollution. It is therefore essential that we help communities and wildlife begin to prepare for these unavoidable impacts.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act contains a number of provisions that will help communities prepare for global warming. It would provide funding to drinking water and wastewater utilities to adapt to more severe droughts, rising sea levels and other changes. Another program would help communities prepare for more intense floods. American Rivers calls on Congress to ensure that a significant portion of the funding in these programs goes towards flexible, sustainable water management solutions rather than outdated approaches such as dams and levees that have degraded our waterways for decades and made them less able to respond to a changing climate.

Finally, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act creates a program to help natural resources and wildlife adapt to global warming. This will be essential for helping fish and wildlife survive rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns and other impacts. Preserving forests, wetlands and rivers will also benefit communities. These ecosystems provide numerous benefits to people including clean water, flood protection and improved water quality. Healthy ecosystems will help communities and wildlife avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

• Get more information on the bill
• See a chart detailing how funding will be distributed to adaptation programs