The social--or real--cost of carbon is the monetary estimate of the damages caused by carbon dioxide emissions to the environment, health, and economic growth. Today's bill contains an unnecessary and harmful policy rider that would delay, indefinitely, incorporating that cost in rulemaking or guidance documents. My amendment would strike that bad rider and would, instead, put us on a path of responsible policymaking that reflects the realities of changing climates and increasingly extreme weather events. {time} 2030 Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bipartisan Risky Business report notes that accounting for the real cost of carbon emissions and preparing for climate change is a smart business practice. If we continue on our current path, by 2050, between $66 billion and $106 billion worth of existing coastal property will likely be below sea level nationwide. Eighty percent of California's GDP is derived from our coastal counties. Greenhouse gas-driven changes in temperature by burning fossil fuels will necessitate construction of new power generation that Mayor Bloomberg's report estimates will cost residential and commercial ratepayers as much as $12 billion per year. That is $12 billion that could be spent by families to put their kids through school or to buy a home. It could be spent by businesses to hire more employees or give annual bonuses.…
On the recordJuly 12, 2016
Share
More from Gary Peters
Jul 31, 2026
I’m never going to stop fighting for this much-needed, bipartisan bill to help bring down costs for fruit growers and mitigate the spread of this invasive pest to prevent their crops from being spoiled to in the first place.
Aug 1, 2026
We’ve made meaningful progress by bringing together federal, state, and local partners, like Tony, but there’s more work ahead. I’ll never stop fighting to address PFAS contamination and protect the health and safety of all Michiganders.
Aug 14, 2026
This bipartisan legislation would help keep kids safe on social media and provide parents with tools to prevent their children from experiencing harm online.





