The President of the United States -- Barack Obama -- during his much anticipated speech at Georgetown University gave his plan to target and fight to reduce green house gas emissions that cause climate change. He also mentioned his plan aims at protecting Americans from what he described as consequences from the effect of climate change.He restated America's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 17% by 2020 (reference), and aslo promised to use his executive power to start up initiatives that will help meet this target.
Politics aside -- and as an environmentalist -- putting climate change on the center stage like this only adds to the momentum that is in place. Also, for a President of one of the highest producers of green house gases to acknowledge the fact and lay out plans to work towards curbing it is a big progress on its own. The details of his plan aim to cut carbon pollution in America, lead international efforts to cut global emissions, and prepare the U.S. for the costly impacts of climate change (reference).
Experts in climate research state clear and precise points that if addressed may well help the US reach its climate goals. Here goes:
1. Set new incentives and regulations.
2. Invest in nuclear power.
3. Kill the Keystone pipeline.
4. Protect the oceans by executive order.
5. Experiment with capturing carbon.
6. Grow government research for new energy sources.
7. Tax carbon.
8. Reduce federal government's energy use.
9. Build a scientific clearinghouse for climate information. (reference)
Today, the realities of the changing climate are evident with hurricane Sandy and floods on Calgary, Canada. Addressing climate change while we still have the time to do so is a must. This website does just that one post at a time.
Photo: National Geographic
