The Waxman Markey Bill, HR2454,  was passed in the House on June 26th, 2009. It requires the U.S. to cut its CO2 emissions by 83%, or to the same level they were in 1915 when the U.S. population was 100 million.

The Waxman Markey Bill requires per capita CO2 emissions be cut to around 2.5 Metric Tons from around 20.5 today.

HR2454 is now before the Senate.

In addition to establishing a cap on CO2 emissions, HR2454 establishes a mechanism for trading CO2 credits that must be purchased from the federal government, or in some cases given "free" to various industries by the government.

HR2454 also establishes a plethora of rules covering everything from light bulbs to toilets.

The EPA is on the verge of issuing regulations controlling CO2 emissions, including cap & trade. This is being done without any Congressional action. It is in response to the Supreme Court decision declaring CO2 a pollutant that should be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

When it comes to CO2 emissions there is a wide gulf between rhetoric and reality.

The rhetoric opines “opportunity” and the need to cut CO2 emissions 80% by 2050 to avoid climate disaster.

Reality asks; “Is it possible to cut CO2 emissions by any significant amount”?