Clean Competition Act Would Reduce Industrial Climate Pollution

(Washington, DC – Dec. 12, 2023) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) reintroduced the Clean Competition Act, which aims to reduce industrial climate pollution while strengthening the competitiveness of clean U.S. manufacturing through new incentives.

“Manufacturing accounts for nearly one-quarter of U.S. climate pollution and is a rapidly growing sector globally. Reducing climate pollution is vital for a stable climate and healthy, thriving communities. The Clean Competition Act can create a race to the top among global competitors as part of a larger effort to move toward a low-carbon economy, while opening a dialogue about additional efforts needed to address local pollution impacts on frontline communities,” said Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President for Political Affairs at Environmental Defense Fund.

“Manufacturers should be rewarded if they adopt best practices that emit less pollution. Recent studies have indicated that U.S. manufacturing tends to be more carbon-efficient than the world average; moreover, we believe that the proposed carbon border adjustment could create incentives for continuous improvements in clean manufacturing at home and abroad.

“The bill also creates an opportunity to prioritize investment into the communities that bear the brunt of legacy pollution and climate change but have been left behind in our current economy. Moving forward, we urge policymakers to adhere to the Biden administration’s Justice40 goals of ensuring that at least 40% of the benefits go to these communities. We see a need for local air quality protections to be considered alongside greenhouse gas emissions reductions, to avoid further increasing burdens on frontline communities. Such policy should center community-based and environmental justice organizations because they are closest to the problems and best equipped to lead in designing the solutions.

“We also recognize that low- and middle-income countries bear little responsibility for global climate change but experience the greatest harms from damages they can’t prevent. Any border adjustment should reflect this reality and avoid additional harm, instead working toward inclusive and equitable global decarbonization.”