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President-elect Obama vows action on climate change
biopact —
... US President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday vowed he would "engage vigorously" in global climate change talks and that denial was no longer an acceptable response to global warming. The approach of the new administration will mark a much-needed and dramatic change from the previous one, which held off any international cooperation on the issue. ...
Barack Obama Commits to "New Chapter" on Climate Change
WattHead - Energy News and Commentary —
In a prepared video address delivered today at the Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, CA, President-elect Barack Obama pledged to turn over "a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change." In the short address, viewed by an audience that includes leaders from around the nation and the world, Obama emphasized the importance of the upcoming international climate negotiations in Poznan, Poland, and said he was "looking forward to working with all nations to meet [the climate] challenge in the coming years." Obama reconfirmed his campaign commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 through a national cap and trade program and again ...
Barack Obama Commits to “New Chapter” on Climate Change
It's Getting Hot In Here —
Cross-posted from WattHead - Energy News and Commentary
In a prepared video address delivered today at the Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, CA, President-elect Barack Obama pledged to turn over “a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change.”
In the short address, viewed by an audience that includes ...
Obama endorses cap and trade at Global Summit
Switchboard, from NRDC —
The morning started off with a bang. Governor Schwarzenegger highlighted California's leadership on climate change over the past decade and then introduced the video from President-elect Obama. Looking very presidential, Obama enunciated an unambiguous commitment to enacting a federal cap and trade program with tight annual caps leading to an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050. The contrast with President Bush's stance on climate change was abundantly evident to everyone. It was the first time I've ever seen a standing ovation for a video.
I'm at the Summit with NRDC's new Western Director, Felicia Marcus, who as far as I can tell knows (and is loved by) ...
President-elect Obama Signals He Will Restore American Leadership on Global Warming
Switchboard, from NRDC —
At a global warming summit convened today in California, President-elect Obama signaled that he will make addressing global warming the high priority it deserves. In the video statement telecast (here) to summit attendees from around the US and the world he stated:
"Few challenges facing America -- and the world -- are more urgent than combating climate change...My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change..."
As NRDC President Frances Beinecke stated in response:
"President-elect Obama's vow to begin 'a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change' ...
Can Obama Fight Climate Change and a Recession?
Earth2Tech —
President-Elect Barack Obama reaffirmed his commitment to addressing climate change this week, asserting that “few challenges facing America - and the world - are more urgent.” But the speech was notable for skirting that other urgent challenge facing the world: its tanking economy.
Sandwiched between an American flag and a heavily autographed basketball, Obama sent a ...
Obama, Global Warming, and the Fast-Track to Economic Stability
Switchboard, from NRDC —
Tuesday was a remarkable day for me. After a decade of fighting to sound the alarm about the urgent need to solve global warming, I heard these words come from the President Elect of the United States: "Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all." U.S. leadership on the climate crisis has arrived.
Some pundits were surprised that Obama chose global warming as the subject of his second major policy announcement since the election. After all, the cynical rule of thumb is that environmental promises dissolve the minute bad financial news comes along.
But Obama recognizes something those cynics may not: that the path to economic stability leads right through ...
A Green Shake-Up in Washington
Switchboard, from NRDC —
Change has come to DC, and it's not just Barack Obama who is shaking things up. This morning, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) took over the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, the committee that will be responsible for writing global warming legislation. Congressman Waxman, a leader on global warming for many years, is known for maintaining scientific integrity and holding polluters accountable. He will work with the new administration to address the global climate crisis - a top priority laid out by the president-elect.
On Tuesday, in a taped statement, President-elect Obama clearly affirmed his commitment to addressing global warming. After eight years of ...
Sustainability News Headline - 11/21/2008
Conservation Value Notes —
News of Sustainability Benefiting People Today President-Elect Obama Promises "New Chapter" On Climate Change Change.gov, 11/21 Congressional Leaders Call for $100 Billion Stimulus With Green Components Grist, 11/21 California Joins Effort to Fight Global Warming By Saving Rainforests Mongabay.com, 11/21 Solar Company Offers to Buy Piece of GM The Triple Pundit, 11/21 China and U.S. Cooperate on Renewable Energy ENN, 11/21 Green Building Report Questions How ...
A Three-Track Strategy on Global Warming
Switchboard, from NRDC —
A broad coalition of environmental organizations, including NRDC, unveiled today our "Transition to Green" - our recommendations for President-Elect Obama and his new administration. Our highest priority recommendations are addressed to taking quick and decisive action on climate and energy.
The best news is that President-Elect Obama is there ahead of us. In a speech to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's climate conference last week, Obama laid out a vision of fast and effective action to tackle the climate crisis while rebuilding our economy and enhancing our energy security.
The "Transition to Green" recommends a ...
Five things to watch in Poznan
It's Getting Hot In Here —
It’s an exciting time as the annual UN Climate Change conflab (aka COP 14, MOP 4, SBSTA a zillion and twelve, etc. etc.) is about to begin, this time in Poznan, a university town in Western Poland. Here’s a run-down of some of the key issues and players:
5. Forests
Back in 1992, the Rio summit was originally supposed to develop a forests treaty in addition to the two ...
Getting Preachy
Switchboard, from NRDC —
Maybe it's the start of the holiday season, which has long been recognized to increase stress. Or perhaps it was the news from India where terrorists killed almost 200 people and injured hundreds more. Whatever the cause, I've found myself getting preachy of late.
In my day job, I counsel my colleagues to stay positive, to focus on the solutions that each and every one of them is putting forward to generate real progress for our environmental challenges. And I've tried to do the same thing with my writings on Switchboard.
But it is all too easy to slip into anger and preachiness when reading about last-minute land grabs and regulations proposed by the Bush ...
Obama can’t get a global climate treaty ratified, so what should he do instead? Part 1
Climate Progress —
It is all but inconceivable that Obama can deliver the 67 votes in the Senate needed to ratify a global climate treaty — no matter what happens in the 12 months between Poznań and Copenhagen. And the only thing worse than no global climate treaty in 2009 is a treaty that Obama can’t get ratified. Yes, Democrats have expanded their majority in the Senate, edging closer and closer to the magical 60 votes needed to stop filibusters. But the conservatives in Congress are stuck in 1985 (1885?), unwilling or unable to acknowledge the now painfully obvious reality of global warming or the remarkable advances that have been made in clean technologies. Conservative Senators lined up as a ...
President Obama should host a UN Climate Change Conference
It's Getting Hot In Here —
With an eye on the next US administration, and on international climate policy, two things are clear.
The world needs US leadership on climate change. The US is now poised to become that leader.
In his transition, President-elect Barack Obama has pledged that his administration will mark a “new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change.” ...
Youth report from Poznań: Taking Back Our Future
Climate Progress —
[Here’s a guest post by SustainUS delegates to the UNFCCC negotiations in Poznań , Poland this week — Matthew Maiorana, Dominic MacCormack, Ben Wessel, and Casie Reed.] [image] SustainUS is a US Youth Network for Sustainable Development, with a delegation of seventeen young people from across the country represented in Poland. They are part of the larger International Youth Delegation present at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) in Poznan, Poland. Together, the international youth delegation consists of over 500 young activists representing 54 different countries from six continents (Antarctic youth have not yet surfaced). SustainUS and their ...
Dear Mr. President: Don’t Let the Canadian Prime Minister Go South on Global Warming When You Go North
Switchboard, from NRDC —
When I mentioned around the office that Canada had proposed to our new President-to-be that the ever growing greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands oil development be "protected" from global warming regulations - the response was disbelief. "Preposterous!" is how one colleague put it.
Harper faces an uphill battle in his proposal for the United States to overlook the fastest growing source of global warming pollution in Canada. Global warming will be of importance throughout the Obama Administration - starting with the creation of a new White House post to oversee and coordinate the administration's work on energy and climate issues that will be ...
With all due respect…
RealClimate —
There was a great comedy piece a few years back (whose origin escapes us) that gave examples of how the English would use their language when speaking to a non-native speaker to imply the precise opposite of what was actually being understood. This allowed the English to feel superior without actually damaging international relations. One example was the phrase "with all due respect" which is generally understood to imply that the speaker has a great deal of respect for their counterpart, while the speaker is actually implying that they have no respect in the slightest for their interlocutor. The respect due being precisely zero.
This thought occurred to us when a few of us ...
