House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global WarmingGlobal warming is defined as 'the warming of the earth by greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere naturally or by mankind'(Global Warming' 1). Global surface temperature has increased by approximately 0.74 °C during the last century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that increasing greenhouse gas concentrations resulting from human activity caused most of the temperature increase 1960s. These basic conclusions have been certified by more than 45 scientific societies and academies of science. The IPCC has recently published reports stating that the global surface temperature will probably rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C during the twenty-first century. The reason this number is so uncertain is because the models used have varying degrees of sensitivity to greenhouse gas concentrations and the use of differing estimates of future greenhouse gas emissions, displaying how uncertain the whole theory of climate change actually is.

The jurisdiction of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is contained in section 4(c) of H. Res. 202, approved by the House of Representatives March 8, states that 'The select committee shall not have legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to take legislative action on any bill or resolution. Its sole authority shall be to investigate, study, make findings, and develop recommendations on policies, strategies, technologies and other innovations, intended to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy and achieve substantial and permanent reductions in emissions and other activities that contribute to climate change and global warming'(The Select' 1).

The Chairman of the Committee is Representative Edward J. Markey, also a senior member of the Natural Resources Committee. Out of fifteen members, nine are Democratic and six are Republican. Because this is a Select Committee, it was originally intended to come to an end at the end of the 110th Congress, but it was decided that it is necessary for the committee to stay On January 18, 2007, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced plans to create the committee, drawing objections from most House Republicans, as well as some Democrats. However, she was able to reach a compromise with Chairman John Dingell of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which agreed that the committee shall only be advisory in nature, and shall not have the same legislative authority that standing committees have. 'For America to be safe and strong, we must take further decisive action now to free our country of its dependence on foreign energy sources and to confront the rising tide of global warming'(News Room' 1). This committee was created almost solely for the purpose of dealing with Global Warming, and once it is decided this issue has been dealt with, the committee will effectively cease to exist, having done its job.

The Select Committee has had as many as 67 hearings over the past two years, from April 18th to today, with topics such as 'Geopolitical implications of rising oil dependence and ...