Introduction
“The President’s Climate Action Plan” is a 21 pages document which was released by Executive Office of the President in June 2013. It has three main sections which cover all the climate action plans that can prevent the climate change internationally. The first section is titled “Cuts Carbon Pollution in America” that describe the plans for reducing carbon emissions in the United States. The second section is “Prepares the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change” which describe how to build a safer community and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Finally, the third section is “Lead International Efforts to Address Global Climate Change” that describes international efforts the US is involved in.
Cuts Carbon Pollution in America
In 2012, the U.S. carbon pollution fell to lowest level in two decade even though the national economy is still growing. To build this plan, Obama Administration is putting in place tough new rules to cut carbon pollution so we can protect health for our children in the future. Cleaning energy sources might create jobs and lower home energy bill. There are some examples about how this plan can do to reduce the carbon pollution.
- Directs Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work closely with states, industry and other stakeholder to establish carbon pollution standards for both new and existing power plants.
- Directs digital object identifier (DOI) to permit enough renewable project such as power more than 6 millions homes by 2020; sets a new goal to install 100 megawatts of renewing on federally assisted housing by 2020; or deploy renewing on military installations.
- Sets a goal to reduce carbon pollution at least 3 billion metric tons cumulatively by 2030.
- Develop fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles to save families money.
Prepares the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change
Even though we are taking a new step in cutting carbon pollution, we still have to prepare for the impacts that are too late to avoid. To build this process, there are some specific actions:
- Directs agencies to support local climate-resilient investment: remove the barriers or counterproductive policies and modernizing programs. Also, we should establish a short-term task force of state or local to advise on key actions the Federal government which can help strengthen communities on the ground.
- Creates sustainable and resilient hospitals in the face of climate change through a public-private partnership with the healthcare industry.
- Provides climate preparedness tools and information that are needed by state, local, and private-sector.
- Rebuilding and Learning from Hurricane Sandy: creates innovative strategies from the effects of Hurricane Sandy to against the future extreme weather and other climate impacts.
Lead International Efforts to Address Global Climate Change
There is no country that can escape from the climate change, and no country can duel with it alone. That is why it is imperative for the United States to couple action at home with leadership internationally. America should help to solve this global problem galvanizing international action to reduce carbon emissions or prepare for climate impacts. For example:
- Working with Other Countries to Take Action to Address Climate Chang: commits to expand major new and existing international initiatives which include the bilateral initiatives with China, India, and other major emitting countries.
- Combat Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: expressed support for using the expertise and institutions of the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs.
- Negotiating Global Free Trade in Environmental Goods and Services: launched negotiations on the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) to achieve global free trade in clean technologies.
Conclusion
The President’s Climate Action Plan in 2013 put forth an action for the US on the impacts of climate change. After reading this document, I think that we can make a chance in make this planet greener. We should work together to reduce the carbon pollution which can affects our children health in the future. There are few of these initiatives that met success already. If we work together, we can change everything.