No single step can reverse the damage of climate change but there are ways we can cut carbon pollution to leave future generations with a planet that is not damaged or polluted.
CUTTING CARBON POLLUTION IN AMERICA
In 2009, President Obama made a commitment to cut down U.S greenhouse gas emissions in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The Obama administration has made some significant progress by doubling generation of electricity from wind, solar, and geothermal and by establishing historic new fuel economy standards.
Cutting Carbon Pollution from Power Plants
Power plants are the largest source of emissions in the U.S. Although there are limits to using arsenic, mercury and lead, there are no federal rules preventing power plants from releasing as much carbon pollution as they want. Many states have taken steps to move to cleaner electricity sources. More than 35 states have renewable energy targets in place and more than 25 states have set energy efficiency targets. Despite these states and their progress, there are still no federal standards set in place for reducing carbon pollution from power plants. The Obama Administration proposed a carbon pollution standard for newer power plants. In order to make continued progress in reducing power plant pollution to improve public health and the environment while supplying reliable, affordable power needed for economic growth, is to drive American leadership in clean energy technologies such as efficient natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and clean coal technology. To accomplish these goals, President Obama is issuing a Presidential Memorandum directing the Environmental Protection Agency to work to complete carbon pollution standards for both new and existing power plants.
PREPARING THE UNITED STATES FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Although we are doing our best to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, we must also prepare for the impacts that are too late to avoid.
Conserving Land and Water Resources
America’s ecosystems are critical to our nations economy and the lives and health of our citizens. The Administration has invested in conserving ecosystems including working with Gulf State partners after the Deepwater Horizon spill to enhance barrier islands and marshes that protect communities from severe storms. The administration is also taking climate- adaptation strategies that promote resilience in fish and wildlife populations, forests, and other plant communities, freshwater resources, and the ocean. The president is also searching for more ways in which we can improve our natural defenses against extreme weather, protect biodiversity, and conserve natural resources.
LEADING INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Expanding Clean Energy Use and Cut Energy Waste
It is important to work with other countries to take action to address Climate Change. In the past three years we have reached agreements with more than 20 countries including Mexico, South Africa, and Indonesia, to support low eission development. Roughly 84% of current carbon dioxide emissions are energy related and about 65% of all greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to energy supply and usage.
The ways in which the Obama Administration has promoted the expansion of renewable energy sources and technologies woldwide are through:
- Financing and regulatory support for renewable and clean energy projects
- Actions to promote fuel switching from oil and coal to natural gas or renewables
- Support for the sale and secure use of nuclear power
- Cooperation on clean coal technologies
- Programs to improve and disseminate energy efficient technologies
Some of the many initiatives that we have launched with other countries are the U.S Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative. This provides assistance with project planning expertise and financing and risk mitigation tools that could potentially unlock up to $1 billion in clean energy financing. We have also the initiative to the U.S.-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Energy Partnership, which has identified $6 billion in U.S export credit and government financing to promote clean energy development in the Asia-Pacific region.