Some opponents of a cap-and-trade system to curb carbon emissions — with the ultimate goal of combating global warming — argue that it will inevitably hurt low-income families. That’s false.
But to counter that false claim, efforts such as the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) must build into the system specific protections for low-income families. That is what OCPP and other low-income advocates from the region recently urged, responding to the WCI’s latest draft recommendations.
Read here (PDF) the public comment by OCPP and colleague organizations in five other WCI states.
Our country and state must act quickly and aggressively to reduce carbon emissions to protect our collective future. While new climate change policies are necessary, they should not deepen the hardships faced by lower-income families. Unless states commit to protecting lower-income families from the impact of rising energy prices that would result from climate change policies, that is exactly what will happen.
OCPP calls on Oregon and all states participating in the Western Climate Initiative to fully shield lower-income families from the impact of climate change policies. We submitted to the Western Climate Initiative a set of principles that should guide state climate change policies.
Read Public comment on the Western Climate Initiative's April 2, 2008 "Draft Allocations Design Recommendations," (PDF) jointly submitted by OCPP and the California Budget Project, the Children's Action Alliance of Arizona, New Mexico Voices for Children, Voices for Utah Children, and the Washington State Budget & Policy Center.
Read the Western Climate Initiative's Draft Allocations Design Recommendations, April 2, 2008 (PDF).
Low-Income Advocates Support Whitehouse on Climate Change June 5, 2008, OCPP.
"Designing Climate-Change Legislation that Shields Low-Income Households from Increased Poverty and Hardship," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
"The Effects of Climate-Change Policies on the Federal Budget and the Budgets of Low-Income Households: An Economic Analysis," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
"Options for Offsetting the Economic Impact on Low- and Moderate-Income Households of a Cap-and-Trade Program for Carbon Dioxide Emissions,"
Congressional Budget Office
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