Ultimately, we need a comprehensive energy and climate policy that prices carbon pollution and levels the playing field for renewable sources of energy that are not degrading our climate and planet. But given that USA has an intransigent Congress (the current House Science Committee leadership continues to deny even the existence of human-caused climate change), the president has been forced to turn to executive actions. His call for carbon emission limits on all coal-fired power plants, not just newly built plants, is a bold step forward. It will go some way to stemming our growing carbon emissions and the impact they are having on our climate.
Finally, the president spelled out promising ways forward to introduce greater incentives for renewable, non-carbon based energy; reduce energy usage/improve energy efficiency; and adapt to those climate change impacts which are already locked in and unavoidable.
CUT CARBON POLLUTION IN AMERICA:
• Directs the EPA to establish carbon pollution standards for both new and existing power plants.
• Promises $8 billion in loan guarantees for fossil fuel projects.
• Directs the Interior Department to permit 10 gigawatts of wind and solar projects on public lands by 2020.
• Expands the president’s Better Building Challenge, helping buildings cut waste to become at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020.
• Sets a goal to reduce carbon pollution by at least 3 billion metric tons cumulatively by 2030 through efficiency standards set for appliances and federal buildings.
• Commits to developing fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles.
• Aims to reduce hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent greenhouse gases.
• Directs agencies to develop a comprehensive methane strategy.
Commits to forests and other landscape protection.
PREPARE THE UNITED STATES FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE:
• Directs agencies to support local investment to help vulnerable communities become more resilient to the effects of global warming.
• Establishment of flood-risk reduction standards in the Hurricane Sandy-affected region.
• Will work with the health-care industry to create sustainable, resilient hospitals.
• Distribution of science-based information for farmers, ranchers and landowners.
• Establishment of the National Drought Resilience Partnership to make rangelands less vulnerable to catastrophic fires.
• Climate Data Initiative will provide information for state, local and private-sector leaders.
LEAD INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE:
• Commits to expanding new and existing initiatives, including those with China, India and other major emitting countries.
• Calls for the end of U.S. government support for public financing of new coal-fired power plants overseas.*
• Expands government capacity for planning and response.