Climate change policy critical to US energy, economic security

The consensus of the noted climate policy scholars whose work is discussed in this article is clear. Given the need to maintain strong US economic growth and address a growing population, a persistent trade deficit, and the retirement of the baby boom generation, policy-makers need to weigh carefully the Kyoto Protocol's negative economic impacts and its failure to engage developing nations in full participation. If growing scientific understanding indicates that such a policy is needed, it is essential to global economic growth and to the stabilization of carbon concentrations in the atmosphere that the US adopt a carefully timed climate change policy. It should be based on accurate science, improved climate models, global participation, tax incentives to accelerate investment in energy efficiency and sequestration, and new technology.