The California Senator who helped steer through July's groundbreaking legislation on climate change, Barbara Boxer, has replaced the denialist Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe as head of the influential US Senate environmental committee.
This means at last there may be a breakthrough on the international negotiations for caps on carbon emissions under Kyoto, stalled for years by Bush regime oil-interest negativisim.
Perhaps the best news for the environment for five years, Boxer has already promised major policy shifts on global warming, air quality and toxic-waste cleanup.
She was a co-sponsor of the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act. She said on Aug 31 when California introduced caps on emissions:
"California's bill has a goal of a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020. Senator Jeffords’ bill [which she co-sponsored] shares this goal, and then continues with an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“President Bush has not only failed to act, he is actively trying to stop California’s efforts to control global warming emissions from automobiles.
“The risks are too great to turn our back on this serious problem. The federal government should follow California’s lead in addressing global warming, for the health of our economy and the future of our country.”
Perhaps now it can.
This pint-sized Boxer packs a punch alright.
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