Senators opposed to the Kyoto climate change treaty introduced a bill yesterday that would forego mandates for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in favor of voluntary, market-based programs. Sponsored by Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Larry Craig (R- Idaho), and Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the measure would allot $2 billion over 10 years to create a research, development, and demonstration program to work with private groups in developing new technology to help stabilize emissions. The bill would also create an Office of Global Climate Change within the Department of Energy to promote voluntary emissions reductions. A coalition of environmentalists panned the bill, calling it a “dangerous diversion” that would not curb carbon-dioxide emissions.
