This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jun/25/obama-unveil-first-us-climate-strategy
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Obama to unveil first-ever US climate change strategy | Obama to unveil first-ever US climate change strategy |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Barack Obama is due to map out America's first climate change strategy on Tuesday, cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, shoring up coastlines against flooding and sea level rise, and helping advance an international climate deal, White House officials said. | Barack Obama is due to map out America's first climate change strategy on Tuesday, cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, shoring up coastlines against flooding and sea level rise, and helping advance an international climate deal, White House officials said. |
| The much-anticipated speech, due at Georgetown University on Tuesday afternoon, will for the first time set out a course of actions designed to reduce the emissions that cause climate change, as well as protect Americans from its worst consequences. They offer the first clear view of how Obama intends to make good on his sweeping promises to act on climate change in his second term. | The much-anticipated speech, due at Georgetown University on Tuesday afternoon, will for the first time set out a course of actions designed to reduce the emissions that cause climate change, as well as protect Americans from its worst consequences. They offer the first clear view of how Obama intends to make good on his sweeping promises to act on climate change in his second term. |
| Administration officials, briefing reporters ahead of the speech, said Obama would reiterate his commitment to cutting America's greenhouse gas emissions 17% from 2005 levels by the end of the decade. The president would use his executive authority to initiate a number of "steady and responsible steps" in order to meet that target. | Administration officials, briefing reporters ahead of the speech, said Obama would reiterate his commitment to cutting America's greenhouse gas emissions 17% from 2005 levels by the end of the decade. The president would use his executive authority to initiate a number of "steady and responsible steps" in order to meet that target. |
| There was no mention of putting a price on carbon dioxide emissions. White House officials have flatly rejected a "carbon tax", and there was no indication whether Obama would support a version of a carbon tax now pending in the Senate. | There was no mention of putting a price on carbon dioxide emissions. White House officials have flatly rejected a "carbon tax", and there was no indication whether Obama would support a version of a carbon tax now pending in the Senate. |
| Officials also made repeated references to "homegrown energy" and Obama's "all of the above" energy approach, suggesting a continued place for natural gas and fracking in the president's climate strategy. | Officials also made repeated references to "homegrown energy" and Obama's "all of the above" energy approach, suggesting a continued place for natural gas and fracking in the president's climate strategy. |
| The most significant element of Tuesday's speech is a commitment from Obama to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to draw up new regulations limiting emissions from power plants – the single biggest source of carbon pollution. | The most significant element of Tuesday's speech is a commitment from Obama to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to draw up new regulations limiting emissions from power plants – the single biggest source of carbon pollution. |
| "The president will be issuing a presidential memorandum directing the EPA to start the important work they are going to do, not only on new but existing coal plants as well," an official said. "The point here is that we are beginning the process." | "The president will be issuing a presidential memorandum directing the EPA to start the important work they are going to do, not only on new but existing coal plants as well," an official said. "The point here is that we are beginning the process." |
| Obama will also propose new energy efficiency standards for buildings and appliances by the end of the decade, as well as an expansion of solar and wind energy projects on public lands, the officials said. The president would also announce $8bn in loan guarantees for carbon capture projects and other technologies. | Obama will also propose new energy efficiency standards for buildings and appliances by the end of the decade, as well as an expansion of solar and wind energy projects on public lands, the officials said. The president would also announce $8bn in loan guarantees for carbon capture projects and other technologies. |
| The president will also announce measures to protect Americans from flooding, sea level rise and other effects of climate change, including a taskforce that will help ensure climate change is factored into future planning decisions. | The president will also announce measures to protect Americans from flooding, sea level rise and other effects of climate change, including a taskforce that will help ensure climate change is factored into future planning decisions. |
| Obama is highly unlikely, however, to touch on one of the biggest environmental decisions ahead of him – the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. | Obama is highly unlikely, however, to touch on one of the biggest environmental decisions ahead of him – the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. |
| Obama claimed climate change was one of his core issues in his inauguration address. He stoked expectations even further in his State of the Union address in February, telling Congress to act on climate change – or he would. | Obama claimed climate change was one of his core issues in his inauguration address. He stoked expectations even further in his State of the Union address in February, telling Congress to act on climate change – or he would. |
| Since then, however, there have been mixed signals from the White House on climate change. The White House delayed a number of environmental rules, and Obama told supporters at a number of fundraisers that the politics of climate change were hard. | Since then, however, there have been mixed signals from the White House on climate change. The White House delayed a number of environmental rules, and Obama told supporters at a number of fundraisers that the politics of climate change were hard. |
| It was clear, meanwhile, that the Republican-dominated Congress had no intention of taking up climate change. In the run-up to Tuesday's speech, the house speaker, John Boehner, disparaged Obama for even thinking of proposing new climate rules, telling a press conference: "I think it would be absolutely crazy." | It was clear, meanwhile, that the Republican-dominated Congress had no intention of taking up climate change. In the run-up to Tuesday's speech, the house speaker, John Boehner, disparaged Obama for even thinking of proposing new climate rules, telling a press conference: "I think it would be absolutely crazy." |
| Industry lobby groups also lined up to oppose the plan. Seven governors wrote to Obama on Monday asking him to abandon his effort, in an initiative sponsored by an organisation called Count on Coal. | Industry lobby groups also lined up to oppose the plan. Seven governors wrote to Obama on Monday asking him to abandon his effort, in an initiative sponsored by an organisation called Count on Coal. |
| Obama, however, was going ahead, the officials said. "At this point the president is prepared to act." They said none of the actions in Obama's climate strategy would require approval from Congress – leaving the president free to rely on his existing authority and those of government agencies. | Obama, however, was going ahead, the officials said. "At this point the president is prepared to act." They said none of the actions in Obama's climate strategy would require approval from Congress – leaving the president free to rely on his existing authority and those of government agencies. |
| The officials said the White House hoped to propose the rules for existing power plants by June 2014, finalising the rules one year later. They said proposed rules for new plants could be forthcoming as early as September. | The officials said the White House hoped to propose the rules for existing power plants by June 2014, finalising the rules one year later. They said proposed rules for new plants could be forthcoming as early as September. |
| That timetable could set in place mechanisms to deliver meaningful cuts in America's greenhouse gas emissions by the time Obama leaves office. | That timetable could set in place mechanisms to deliver meaningful cuts in America's greenhouse gas emissions by the time Obama leaves office. |
| But there are bound to be legal and political challenges, and it was not immediately clear how stringent the new power plant rules would be. Power plants are responsible for 40% of America's carbon dioxide emissions, and about a third of greenhouse gas emissions overall. | But there are bound to be legal and political challenges, and it was not immediately clear how stringent the new power plant rules would be. Power plants are responsible for 40% of America's carbon dioxide emissions, and about a third of greenhouse gas emissions overall. |
| Environmental groups had been pressing Obama for months to instruct the EPA to draw up rules for existing plants. There was positive response to initial White House briefings on the plan. | Environmental groups had been pressing Obama for months to instruct the EPA to draw up rules for existing plants. There was positive response to initial White House briefings on the plan. |
| "They are following through on what we asked for," said Kevin Kennedy, who directs the US climate programme for the World Resources Institute. "You can't be serious about reducing US greenhouse gas emissions if you are not going to take on existing power plants." | "They are following through on what we asked for," said Kevin Kennedy, who directs the US climate programme for the World Resources Institute. "You can't be serious about reducing US greenhouse gas emissions if you are not going to take on existing power plants." |
| The Sierra Club, which has pushed Obama hard to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, was effusive. "This is the change Americans have been waiting for on climate. President Obama is finally putting action behind his words," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club – although he went on to ask the president to stop the pipeline. | The Sierra Club, which has pushed Obama hard to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, was effusive. "This is the change Americans have been waiting for on climate. President Obama is finally putting action behind his words," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club – although he went on to ask the president to stop the pipeline. |
| It was unclear before the speech whether the proposed EPA regulations would go far enough to meeting America's 17% target, which was Obama's commitment to the 2009 United Nations climate change summit at Copenhagen. | It was unclear before the speech whether the proposed EPA regulations would go far enough to meeting America's 17% target, which was Obama's commitment to the 2009 United Nations climate change summit at Copenhagen. |
| Most analysts at the time said the target was too low to avoid serious climate change. There was even greater uncertainty about whether America would be on track for the even more ambitious mid-century target of an 80% cut in emissions. That would depend on the stringency of the EPA measures, and how quickly the new rules could be adopted, Kennedy said. | Most analysts at the time said the target was too low to avoid serious climate change. There was even greater uncertainty about whether America would be on track for the even more ambitious mid-century target of an 80% cut in emissions. That would depend on the stringency of the EPA measures, and how quickly the new rules could be adopted, Kennedy said. |
| Barack Obama's climate action plan has now been published: | |
| Barack Obama's Climate Action Plan by Guardian | |
| . |