Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced a bill Thursday that would require the Congressional Budget Office to calculate the effect legislation would have on carbon emissions.
The Carbon Pollution Transparency Act, S. 2905, would direct the CBO to calculate a carbon score for each bill or resolution.
{mosads}The CBO already informs lawmakers about the economic effect of legislation, but Sanders’ bill aims to ensure Congress knows the environmental effects as well when considering legislation. The bill would require CBO to identify how much a measure would increase or decrease carbon emissions.
Sanders has said climate change is the greatest environmental threat facing the planet and that lawmakers should weigh the carbon footprint of legislation when deciding how to vote.
His bill comes as the administration ramps up their climate change push ahead of next week’s United Nations climate summit.