# No, Climate Legislation's Not Dead

*Published:* 2009-03-25
*Author:* Sam Parry

Last week, we [called out Bradford Plumer](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2009/03/20/nows-not-the-time/), Assistant Editor at *The New Republic*, for saying that he thought there is a “real case” for “waiting until later this year or early next year on cap and trade.”

We had two points:

1. Once you start saying, “Why rush this?” it starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
2. There’s been ample time to debate global warming legislation — after all, we’ve known for a generation that this is a problem we’ll have to solve, and the first cap and trade bill was introduced in the Senate in 2003.

So, we are pleased to [read today that Mr Plumer has clarified his point](http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/environmentandenergy/archive/2009/03/25/no-climate-legislation-s-not-dead.aspx) and now says “cap on carbon emissions can still pass this year.”

Not only can a bill pass this year, it is absolutely critical that Congress seize this political opportunity to act. Here are three of many reasons why:

1. The longer we delay action, the [more costly it will be](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2008/02/14/price_of_waiting/) to solve this crisis.
2. Scientists are warning that the [worst case global warming scenarios are coming true](http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/17805).
3. Without U.S. action, it is [unclear how successful international climate negotiations will be](http://www.edf.org/article.cfm?contentID=8800) this December.

With strong leadership from the White House and key Congressional leaders, combined with constant grassroots pressure, we can pass a bill that will stop global warming and unleash a green energy revolution to put Americans back to work and get the U.S. economy back on track.

Not only can we, but we must.