Can mankind adapt to the changes in environment caused by global climate change?

Will mankind be wise enough to protect our planet for future generations?  Or, are we toast?

Time and experience will be required before the first question can be answered.  But, unfortunately the answer to the second question is becoming increasingly clear. 

On July 22, 2010,  U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nevada) announced that the Senate would not act on climate change but instead would attempt to pass a bill limited to raising the liability caps on spills by oil companies and providing incentives for developing natural gas vehicles.  

At the time of Senator Reids’ action, the Senate had two draft bills for consideration.  The 39-page Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal Act (CLEAR) Act of Senators Collins and Cantwell, was a focused bill in which the government would auction pollution credits and rebate 75% of the proceeds to each citizen and legal resident of the U.S. as a dividend, with the remaining 25% used for clean-energy research, reduction of emissions from agriculture, forestry and manufacturing and provide transition assistance to workers and communities in carbon-intensive regions.  CLEAR established a price for carbon, supported clean energy development, and encouraged conservation; exactly what an ideal climate change bill should do.  CLEAR did not establish a carbon trading market for speculation in carbon credits, attempt to predict winners in the development of clean energy alternatives, or provide favors for special interests or “dirty” industry.

In sharp contrast, the 1,000 page  American Power Act (APA) authored by Senators Kerry, Lieberman and Graham was laden with pork and exemptions.  It was a “cap and trade” bill with unrestricted trading of carbon credits and allowances.  It was fashioned by compromise upon compromise in an attempt to provide benefits for every special interest, lobbyist and politician at the expense of the American taxpayer and the environment.  During the long preparation of the  APA  emphasis was steadily shifted from climate change to energy development.  By the time the final draft was completed, carbon caps would have been initially placed on only largest electric utilities, which seems to be an act of sheer hypocrisy when you consider the government support for electric cars as the vehicle of choice.  

As the proposed CLEAR Act did not provide special benefits there were no favors for Senators to hand out to special interest or business groups.  Therefore, it had very little support in the Senate.  On the other hand, the pork-laden APA had goodies galore, with new ones added daily.  Consequently it had considerable support from special interest groups and business lobbyists.  Regrettably most of the major environmental groups supported the APA, claiming that while it was not perfect it had the best chance to to pass the Senate, and then could always be fixed at a later date.  In other words, to their shame, these organizations traded integrity for expediency. 

Congress has also lacked any leadership from President Obama, in spite of his campaign promises to place a high priority on climate change legislation.  Indeed, when BP presented him with the opportunity to link our dependence upon hydrocarbons and a changing climate President Obama passed.  Climate change science is complex, and national leadership which links climate change to the environment, national security, and the economy is sorely needed and currently lacking.

Eighteen months ago the passage of climate change legislation seemed more likely than ever.  A new Democratic President promised action, appointed excellent people with outstanding scientific backgrounds to important positions,  and had a solid majority in both the House and the Senate.  Realizing that passage of a bill was inevitable and that it presented ample opportunities for profit, climate change legislation had considerable support from the “clean” business sector; and, polls showed that the majority of Americans supported such legislation.   However, the economy deteriorated,  and emails were stolen from the Climatic Research Unit of East Anglia University and distorted in the popular media.  Consequently, political leadership in Congress or by the President did not materialize and in the end, the U.S. Senate in an act of pure political cowardice elected not to even acknowledge climate change or to stand up and be counted.

But the blame does not stop with our leaders, representatives, environmental organizations or special interests, because we, the people, also did not act and did not apply sufficient pressure to make the lack of action uncomfortable for our elected representatives and leaders.  Thus we also demonstrated cowardice by not standing up to be counted.  Our failure to stand up will be our legacy to our grandchildren.

The January 29th announcement establishes the targets required by the October 5, 2009 Executive Order 13514 (Federal Leadership in Environmental, energy and Economic Performance) mandated that Federal Agencies submit a 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target within 90 days; and, increase energy efficiency, reduce petroleum consumption, conserve water, reduce waste and increase recycling.

The announcement does not include any emission reductions by federal contractors and suppliers, or resulting from employee commuting as called for by the executive order.

The full text of the White House announcement is:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

January 29, 2010

President Obama Sets Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target for Federal Operations

 

Target to Drive Energy Cost Reductions in Federal Operations, Creating Clean Energy Jobs

WASHINGTON, DC – President Barack Obama today announced that the Federal Government will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by 28 percent by 2020.  Reducing and reporting GHG pollution, as called for in Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability, will ensure that the Federal Government leads by example in building the clean energy economy.  Actions taken under this Executive Order will spur clean energy investments that create new private-sector jobs, drive long-term savings, build local market capacity, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy industries.

As the single largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy, the Federal Government spent more than $24.5 billion on electricity and fuel in 2008 alone.  Achieving the Federal GHG pollution reduction target will reduce Federal energy use by the equivalent of 646 trillion BTUs, equal to 205 million barrels of oil, and taking 17 million cars off the road for one year.  This is also equivalent to a cumulative total of $8 to $11 billion in avoided energy costs through 2020.

“As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient,” said President Obama.  “Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy.”

Federal Departments and Agencies will achieve greenhouse gas pollution reductions by measuring their current energy and fuel use, becoming more energy efficient and shifting to clean energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal.  Examples of agency actions that are underway are available on the White House Council on Environmental Quality website and can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq.

On October 5, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability, setting measureable environmental performance goals for Federal Agencies.  Each Federal Agency was required to submit a 2020 GHG pollution reduction target from its estimated 2008 baseline to the White House Council on Environmental Quality and to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget by January 4, 2010.  The Federal target announced today is the aggregate of 35 Federal Agency self-reported targets.

Greenhouse gas emissions serve as a useful metric to measure the effectiveness of agency energy and fuel efficiency efforts as well as renewable energy investments. Agencies are already taking actions that will contribute towards achieving their targets, such as installing solar arrays at military installations, tapping landfills for renewable energy, putting energy management systems in Federal buildings, and replacing older vehicles with more fuel efficient hybrid models.

As a next step, the Office of Management and Budget will validate and score each agency’s sustainability plan, assuring a long-term return on investment to the American taxpayer. To ensure accountability, annual progress will be measured and reported online to the public.

“Let me begin by thanking the bipartisan group of U.S. governors who convened this meeting.

Few challenges facing America – and the world – are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear. Sea levels are rising. Coastlines are shrinking. We’ve seen record drought, spreading famine, and storms that are growing stronger with each passing hurricane season.

Climate change and our dependence on foreign oil, if left unaddressed, will continue to weaken our economy and threaten our national security.

I know many of you are working to confront this challenge. In particular, I want to commend Governor Sebelius, Governor Doyle, Governor Crist, Governor Blagojevich and your host, Governor Schwarzenegger – all of you have shown true leadership in the fight to combat global warming. And we’ve also seen a number of businesses doing their part by investing in clean energy technologies.

But too often, Washington has failed to show the same kind of leadership. That will change when I take office. My presidency will mark a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process.

That will start with a federal cap and trade system. We will establish strong annual targets that set us on a course to reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them an additional 80% by 2050.

Further, we will invest $15 billion each year to catalyze private sector efforts to build a clean energy future. We will invest in solar power, wind power, and next-generation biofuels. We will tap nuclear power, while making sure it’s safe. And we will develop clean coal technologies.

This investment will not only help us reduce our dependence on foreign oil, making the United States more secure. And it will not only help us bring about a clean energy future, saving our planet. It will also help us transform our industries and steer our country out of this economic crisis by generating five million new green jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced.

But the truth is, the United States cannot meet this challenge alone. Solving this problem will require all of us working together. I understand that your meeting is being attended by government officials from over a dozen countries, including the UK, Canada and Mexico, Brazil and Chile, Poland and Australia, India and Indonesia. And I look forward to working with all nations to meet this challenge in the coming years.

Let me also say a special word to the delegates from around the world who will gather at Poland next month: your work is vital to the planet. While I won’t be President at the time of your meeting and while the United States has only one President at a time, I’ve asked Members of Congress who are attending the conference as observers to report back to me on what they learn there.

And once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations, and help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change.

Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all. Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response. The stakes are too high. The consequences, too serious. Stopping climate change won’t be easy. It won’t happen overnight. But I promise you this: When I am President, any governor who’s willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House. Any company that’s willing to invest in clean energy will have an ally in Washington. And any nation that’s willing to join the cause of combating climate change will have an ally in the United States of America. Thank you.”