The President’s Climate Action Plan was published in June 2013. In his Second Inaugural Address, given January 2013, President Obama stated, “The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition, we must lead it.” The Climate Action Plan is part of how President Obama will achieve the pledge he made in 2009 that by 2020, America would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels. His plan can be divided into three pillars-
1. Cut Carbon Pollution in America
2. Prepare the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change
3. Lead International Efforts to Combat Global Climate Change and Prepare for its Impacts
This blog will discuss one initiative from each of the three pillars.
In regards to the first pillar (Cut Carbon Pollution in America), the plan includes deploying clean energy by cutting carbon pollution from power plants as power plants, “are the largest concentrated source of emissions in the United States, together accounting for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions.” As of the plan being written, there were no federal standards in place to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, although some changes were being made at the state level. Carbon pollution standards for both new and existing power plants are being created by the Environmental Protection Agency.
In regards to the second pillar (Prepare the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change), the plan includes protecting our economy and natural resources in many ways including promoting resilience in the health sector, conserving land and water resources, and identifying vulnerabilities of key sectors to climate change. Promoting resilience in the health sector means providing guidance on affordable measures to ensure that our medical system is resilient to climate impacts, collaboration with partner agencies to share best practices among federal health facilities, and training public-health professionals and community leaders to prepare their communities for the health consequences of climate change.
In regards to the third pillar (Lead International Efforts to Combat Global Climate Change and Prepare for its Impacts), the plan mainly attempts to work with other countries to take action to address climate change. This is accomplished in numerous ways including expanding clean energy use and cutting energy waste by:
-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 safe and secure use of nuclear power
-Cooperation on clean coal technologies
-Programs to improve and disseminate energy efficient technologies
References:
1. The President’s Climate Action Plan
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf
2.The White House
https://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change
3. Environment and Energy Study Institute
http://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-timeline-progress-of-president-obama-climate-action-plan