T H E   W H I T E   H O U S E

October 22, 1997

Help Site Map Text Only

The President's climate change plan is based on five key principles: The policies should be guided by science; rely on market-based, common-sense tools; that we should seek win-win solutions; that global participation is essential to addressing the global problem of climate change; and that we must have regular common-sense reviews of the economics and science of climate change.

Key elements of President Clinton's Climate Change Proposal include:

Realistic and Binding Targets to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions. A critical component of the President's comprehensive framework is a realistic, achievable, and binding target of reducing greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2008-2012 and reductions below 1990 levels in the 5-year period that follows.

$5 Billion Program of Tax Cuts and Research and Development for New Technologies. To spur energy efficiency and the development of new technologies, the President proposes a major new packet of tax cuts and R&D spending amounting to $5 billion over five years.

Industry-by-Industry Consultation and Early Credit. The Administration challenges key industries to prepare plans over the next nine months on how they can best reduce emissions. To provide incentives for near-term actions to cut emissions, the President is committed to ensuring appropriate rewards for firms that act early.

Developing Countries Must Participate. Climate change is a global problem, and requires a global solution. That's why the United States has spear-headed joint implementation projects, and the President has committed that the United States will not adopt binding obligations without the participation of developing countries.

Broad-Based Domestic and International Emissions Trading System Begins After A Decade of Experience Has Accumulated. The President is committed to a market-based emissions trading system, both domestically and internationally, that will harness the power of the market to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The trading system would begin after a decade's worth of experience with tax incentives, R&D, early credit, electricity restructuring, Federal efforts, and other measures.



President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House
White House for Kids | White House History
White House Tours | Help | Text Only

Privacy Statement

October 1997

October 25, 1997

October 28, 1997

October 6, 1997

October 30, 1997

October 7, 1997

October 8, 1997

October 10, 1997

October 21, 1997

October 22, 1997

October 23, 1997

October 1, 1997