Transition Report: Help Them Stand and Deliver
January 13, 2009 | Posted by Sam Parry in Transition Report
A week from today, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.
For those of us who have been fighting for global warming action for so many years, it is very exciting to know that our next president believes global warming is a dire threat and that we are running out of time.
"Few challenges facing America—and the world—are more urgent than combating climate change," President-elect Obama said recently. And he's putting policy behind the rhetoric, calling for a national cap on global warming pollution to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.
President Obama will need all the help he can get on this critical issue. And he has selected a strong environmental team to help him.
This week, Steven Chu and Lisa Jackson will appear before congressional confirmation hearings for the Secretary of Energy and EPA Administrator posts respectively. Both are expected to be confirmed without difficulty and we look forward to working with them and the rest of the Obama team to finally win global warming action.
For its part, the 111th Congress has been reshaped as well. Climate action advocates Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) have assumed new roles on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. They have pledged to make global warming a top legislative priority. And, this week Rep. Waxman will convene an important hearing on global warming solutions.
Make no mistake. In spite of some very positive political headlines, no climate proposal will pass without a fight. Special interests will do everything they can to mislead Americans with the twin lies that the science isn't settled and that, even if it is, climate policy is too expensive.
With your help, we will show up in force this year to counter their efforts. It is time, at long last, for Americans to come together and demand action on the most urgent environmental threat facing the planet today.
It is time for Americans to stand and help our political leaders deliver real action on this critical issue.
4 Responses
Comment from Craig Collier
January 14th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Building for long term value requires vision. Many of the rural areas that would yeild the least return for any initiative are also the last to have access to significant broadband. Communication protocol is a primary consideration for electrical grid upgrade to integrate renewable energy. Using the Rural Utilities Service from the USDA working with utility co-ops, posssibly financed with Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, a wimax net could be established to bring instant value and create a foundation on which to build years of additional value.
Comment from gerry steinberg
January 14th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Two initiatives (from among many) stand out to me as top priorities: (1) need for Obama's infrastructure jobs programs to emphasize repair and expansion of mass transit systems, including high-speed rail in urban areas, as much or more than road and bridge repair;
(2)combining "bailouts" of the domestic auto industry with (finally) enforcing mandatory mileage and emission standards for all new vehicles and re-tooling the US auto/truck fleet to alternate fuel (hybrid, alcohol) and electric. On the last point: the technology and the vehicles (re: Chevy Volt) are already or will soon be there. Combine money to revamp auto plants and manufacturing with incentives to consumers (cash for clunkers, subsidies for low-cost loans to buy newer vehicles, etc). These policies alone will create or save tens of thousands of jobs (between direct vehicle manufacture and marketing jobs and other industries affected by auto manufacture such as metals, parts manufacture, various consumer products). Good ways to have economic multiplier effects for economy, help save the environment, and wean us off dependence on petroleum and politics of petroleum.
Comment from Barbara Wolin
January 14th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
There is no more important issue facing our planet than global warming. Policies must transcend political ideologies and address all options available to government and industry. The quality of life for all nations, all people depends upon global cooperation in curbing CO2 emmissions from every source possible. This means, among other measures, developing alternatives to fossil fuels that will not impact agricultural markets. It means engaging every individual to participate in the process in their daily lives. Education is the key to enabling this participation. Each person can have an impact in reaching the goal if they understand their role, but the solutions must be practical and simple, not draconian.
Comment from Jan Freed
January 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am
This is no time for amateurs or ideologues. Obama's administrations must consult and respect the council of specialists in ecology, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.
For example, would planting millions of trees be a good idea? Intuitively, one would say "yes", but I have read that move is still open to question.
Professional scientists gave us good warning; let them weigh in on the solution.