Tues 25th June saw President Barak Obama make a key speech on plans to tackle climate change. Just as the UK government and European Union have plans and targets, these plans were to firm up the US details.
Speaking from Georgetown University in Washington DC, there were 3 main areas:
- Reducing pollution
- Preparing for Climate change in the US
- Leading Global efforts
The US saw its warmest year ever last year. Out of the past 15 years, there have been 12 hottest years on record. Asthma is on the increase, flooding, heat waves, droughts, all putting pressure on American farmers. Last year there were 11 separate climate and weather related disaster with each costing over $1 billion each. One key event being Hurricane Sandy which struck New York bringing flooding, practically on, Election Day.
There are huge problems facing the Obama administration getting started on these plans. The fuzzy topic of Climate Change still has an image problem, the effects of the recession mean more imminent problems like jobs and living costs are higher on the agenda for most Americans. Most of these plans, lead to rising fuel costs, and expense, which is a hard sale for any politician, and even harder when there are many opposers
One example, being the hot potato of the massive pipeline, planned from Canada to Texas President Barack Obama says that the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project should only be approved if it doesn't worsen carbon pollution. The pull of new jobs is highly supported by Republicans, whereas environmentalists are much less keen.
Reduce pollutionClean energy, reductions in existing carbon emissions from power plants
Looking at renewable energy, innovation and investment. So more wind and solar
Fuel economy and transportation
Cutting energy waste (and bills)
Climate change in the USReducing greenhouse gases
Looking at how climate change will impact US, drought, and more wildfires
Infrastructure such as roads and bridges, flood defences
Review of hurricane Sandy which hit NY just before election
Looking at Insurance and natural resources
Using science to help plan
Global effortsWork with other countries (China and India being key to Americans)
Trade, finances, Deforestation
Looking for a truly global solution
