As we already know, environmental pollution is a reality around the world that results is global warming and climate changes . “While no single step can reverse the effect of climate change, we have a moral obligation to future generations to leave them a planet that is not polluted and damaged”[1] . In June of 2013; the president of the United Stated released a Climate action plan, that has as a main goal to cut carbon pollution that cause climate change . This plan consists several action plans but all of these can be grouped into three main areas:
1) Cut Carbon Pollution in America
2) Prepare the United Stated for the impacts of climate change
3) Lead international efforts to combat global climate change and prepare for tis impacts
On this post I will be discussing one action that is related to each one of the categories listed above. First, in order to protect society’s health and move the United state’s economy towards American-made clean energy sources and consequently create more job opportunities, the Obama Administration has created new rules to cut the carbon pollution. Among these we have: Cutting energy waste in homes, business and factories. Achieving this goal is not simple and it involves other smaller objectives such as establishing new energy efficiency standards and reducing barriers to invest in energy efficiency .
Personally I believe this two action plans are one of the most important is we are trying to achieve less energy waste. If the energy efficiency is regulated , better efficiency, for new appliances and building then the amount of energy consumed by this would be less which will consequently result in a decrement on the energy bills. Similarly, in order to be able to improve energy efficiency standards, companies will require more capital for research. For this same reason reducing barriers to investment is Important . This action plan consists on an “update to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program to provide up to $250 million for rural utilities to finance efficiency investments by business and homeowners across rural America” [1] Additionally, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s efforts include a $23 million Multifamily Energy Innovation fund designed to enable affordable housing providers, technology to deliver cost-effective residential angry .
The second goal of this Climate action plan is to prepare the unites stated for the impact of climate change, starting with building stronger and safer communities and infrastructure. It is no secret that extreme weather conditions will cause a great amount of damage if the city is not prepared for it. Therefore , the “National Institute of Standards and Technology will convene a panel on disaster –resilience standards to develop a comprehensive, community-based resilience framework and provide guidelines for consistently safe building and infrastructure- products that can inform the development of private-sector standards and codes” [1]. If buildings, houses, and roads are developed following a set of climate change regulations, accordingly to their location, then climate disasters could be prevented resulting in less amount energy that will be required to recover the affected area.
Lastly the last aspect of this action plan is to leas international efforts to address global climate change. “The Obama Administration is working to build on the actions that it is taking domestically to achieve significant global greenhouse gas emissions reductions and enhance climate preparedness through major international initiatives “ [1]. Working with other countries to take action to address climate change is the first aspect on this last goal. Among the objectives reducing emissions form deforestation and forest degradation is an important area that you be considered internationally. Greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, agriculture and other land use constitute approximately 1/3 of global emissions. For this reason, the Obama Administration is working to address agriculture-driven deforestation through initiative such as the Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 [1], which brings together governments, the private sector, and civil society to reduce tropical deforestation related to key agricultural commodities.
One aspect that really called my attention from the President’s Climate Action Plan is the fact that improving the planet’s is an action that goes beyond some simple ideas but it requires coordination and planning down to the smallest detail . Every kind of society group , governmental or non-governmental, should be taken into account when implementing a new action.