Environment

What does electing Obama mean for the environment?

by Amy Judd | November 5, 2008 at 10:58 am

142 views | 13 Recommendations | 4 comments

Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States last night. However, what could that potentially mean for the environment and the state of the US's position on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions?

It is likely he was dispose of President Bush's energy policies and introduce some kind of climate change bill to try to bring back the US to a prominent place in the environmental world.

Obama did mention a 'planet in peril' in his acceptance speech last night, and environmentalists are hoping that this will mean he will begin looking into climate change now, not when he is sworn in in January. Obama is expected to announce a new goal for the US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020, and then again by 80% by 2050. This will most likely be by a cap and trade system to force businesses to reduce emissions. This matches Britain's ambitious targets, and would mean that the US would lead the way for Europe as well.

The election result was greeted ecstatically by US environment groups. Rodger Schlickeisen, the president of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, said: "For the first time in nearly a decade, we can look to the future with a sense of hope that the enormous environmental challenges we face will begin to be addressed and that our air, land, water, and wildlife – and the overall health of our planet – will not be sacrificed to appease polluting industries and campaign contributors.

"It is difficult to describe the damage done by the Bush administration's misguided and destructive environmental policies. For eight years, the special interests have ruled, virtually dictating our conservation, environmental and energy policies."

European environment groups also welcomed what they hoped would be a radical new direction for US environmental policy. "Obama's victory will give crucial climate negotiations a much greater chance of success – the United States must face up to its international responsibilities and show positive global leadership in low-carbon economic development", said Andy Atkins, Friends of the Earth's executive director in London.

Obama has also promised a $150 billion 'Apollo Project', which will use a new alternative energy economy to create jobs and industry. He has said he has 'green recovery' plans and wants to invest $15 billion a year over the next ten years in renewable energy; also creating jobs in those fields that can't be replaced when the oil runs out. He also wants to put hybrid plug-in cars on America's streets to cut down on the greenhouse emissions.

So it remains to be seen what will happen, but from the response today it seems like most of the steps are positive ones.

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gerrypopplestone

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:33 on November 5th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. Somewhere (cant remember where!) I found his list of plans for the environment - quite detailed as I remember. Sorry tobe vague!

SOLARLIFE

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:50 on November 5th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. The US will follow European standards for money chemicals, environment, CO2. The start is very diffcult with all the money burnt for the bankers christmas bonus. The new way of financing will lead to 25 years government CO2 bonds, 10 years tax free. A good investment to expect in the next 2 years. The market can not regulate the environment problem. A new lesson to learn for social response capitalism. The world leader in renewable electricity is germany with 15% going up to 20%. A long way to go for US and UK with the wrong banker approach to the environment.