TIMELINE OF US CLIMATE LEGISLATION
Here is a timeline of all the climate-related US legislation and agreements that have been created.
1955
The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955 provided funds for federal research in air pollution.
1963
The Clean Air Act of 1963 established a federal program within the U.S. Public Health Service and authorized research into monitoring and controlling air pollution.
1970
The Clean Air Act of 1970 authorized the development of comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary sources and mobile sources.
1990
The 1990 Clean Air Act amendments authorized for control of acid deposition (acid rain) and for the issuance of stationary source operating permits.
1992
Senate approves U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
1992
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) added the renewable energy production tax credit to the 1992 Energy Policy Act.
1997
President Clinton agrees to cut greenhouse gases 7% below 1990 levels under the Kyoto Protocol but the Senate never ratifies it.
2003
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced The Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 to institute a cap-and-trade program to reduce emissions. It failed 55-43.
2005
An investment tax credit for solar energy installations was added to the tax code through the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
2007
As part of the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the EPA published a rule requiring public reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from large sources.
2008-2010
Several climate cap-and-trade bills were introduced during this period. All of them failed.
2012
In May 2012, Congress passed the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act, a major step toward actuarial pricing and a full accounting of climate risk.
2012
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) introduced the Clean Energy Standard Act to enact a tradeable energy standard. It failed.
2015
Congress agreed on a multi-year extension and ultimate phase-out of the wind and solar power tax credits.
2015
President Obama pledges to cut U.S. emissions 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025 under the Paris climate agreement.
2017
President Trump announces the U.S. will quit the Paris agreement.
2018
Congress enacted a two-year budget deal that extended and expanded key financial incentives for investments in several advanced low-carbon technologies.
2020
Congress passed a package that includes research for clean energy technologies and tax incentives and directs EPA to phase down hydrofluorocarbons over a 15-year period.
2021
President Biden moves to rejoin the Paris agreement and announced a pledge to cut emissions 50% to 52% by 2030.
2022
President Biden announced new funding for cooling centers and off-shore wind projects in the Gulf of Mexico and an outline to address deforestation by planting 1 billion trees.