The Climate Security Act (S. 3036) requires large emitters such as power plants and oil refineries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions every year at a pace scientists say is needed to avoid catastrophic climate changes. The Act will reduce U.S. global warming pollution from major emitters by more than 15% below current levels between the years 2012 and 2020, and 70% below current levels by the year 2050.

To make this work, the Climate Security Act establishes a "cap-and-trade" system pioneered under the Clean Air Act. This system guarantees the pollution reduction goals will be met, while giving industry the flexibility to find the best solutions. The result will be millions of new "green collar" manufacturing jobs.

The allowances from the cap-and-trade system will be worth a large amount of money, which will be invested into a number of things under the Act, including:

• Protecting America's natural resources, fish and wildlife.
• Helping consumers with energy bills.
• Creating a worker training program to provide everyone access to the new energy economy.
• Investing in low pollution energy technologies in the next two decades that would be 10 times as large as current levels of energy research and development funding.
• Protecting states that pass their own, tougher laws.
• Creating incentives for projects to store carbon in forests and soils.
• Providing resources for states and tribes to assist with local global warming efforts.
• Engaging all nations in global efforts to reduce emissions and help the most vulnerable nations deal with global warming impacts.

More Climate Security Act Links:

• TAKE ACTION: Ask your senators to pass this bill!
• How will the Climate Security Act benefit the economy?
• Cap-and-Trade and the Climate Security Act
• How does the Climate Security Act protect natural resources?