The Implications of Curbing US Power Plant Emissions

The new rules curbing power plant emissions in the U.S. will have far reaching impacts both domestically and around the world. Curbing emissions from power plants is part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan which he announced in 2013. Last September, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed standards to curb U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) from new power plants. On June 2nd of this year, the EPA announced it will restrict emissions including carbon, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide by more than 25 percent by 2030 from all power plants. The EPA guidelines also include plans to prepare the U.S. for the effects of climate change, including strengthening roads, bridges and shorelines.

To circumvent the obstinacy of Republicans, the President is using his executive authority and putting forward the new rules under the Clean Air Act. The historic announcement will reduce carbon pollution from power plants by almost one third (30 percent) from 2005 levels by 2030. Even more significantly, they may spur global action that enables us to secure a binding climate treaty in 2015.

Video - The White House's Climate Assessment Explained

Referencing the White House's Climate Assessment, Dr. John Holdren, President Obama's Science Advisor, says that climate change "is not a distant threat, it is affecting the American people already."

Depending on where you are in the US, summers are longer and hotter, we are seeing more wildfires and allergies as well as heatwaves, extreme precipitation events, storm surges, draught and other impacts on agriculture. To learn more about President Obama's climate action place click here.

The Paradox of President Obama's All of the Above Energy Strategy

Staying within prescribed climate change limits will be difficult under Obama’s all-of-the-above strategy. Although Obama may be the greenest President in American history he is not doing enough to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. In his State of the Union address, he did talk about the veracity of climate change and the need to further reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions, however his ongoing support for fossil fuel extraction is dangerous and imperils hopes that we can tackle the issue of climate change before we reach irreversible tipping points.

The President made many laudable points during his address including his desire to increase protections for air, water, land and American communities. He quite correctly explained that, “we have to act with more urgency because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods.”

The President touted the growth of solar power saying: “[W]e’re becoming a global leader in solar too. Every four minutes another American home or business goes solar, every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced.”

Video - Hope for 2014: What Obama is Doing to Combat Climate Change

President Obama's Climate Change Strategy announced in the summer of 2013, gives us reason to hope that the world's wealthiest and most influential nation will assume a leadership role in efforts to combat climate change.

Obama Increases Federal Renewable Energy Adding to His Climate Action Plan

In his most recent effort to combat climate change, US President Barack Obama has indicated that he will triple the amount of federal energy derived from renewable sources. This is another significant step forward in the effort to curtail US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although impeded by Republicans at every turn under Obama's leadership federal agencies have already decreased their carbon emissions by 15 percent.

In response to Republicans hell-bent efforts to shut down his legislative agenda, the President has once again been forced to use his executive privileges to advance the federal governments efforts to combat climate change. His latest executive order was signed on Thursday December 5, and it will nearly triple the federal government's use of renewable energy from 7 percent to more than 20 percent.

Obama Signs a Climate Change Resilience Executive Order

On the morning of Friday November 1, 2013, President Obama signed an executive order (EO) designed to prepare the country for climate-related disasters. Climate change adaptation cannot wait for the Congress, so the President is using his executive privileges to do what they won't.

This is a tangible follow-up to his Climate Action Plan which the President unveiled in June. Obama has clearly grown weary of Republican obstructionism in Congress. Their knee jerk opposition to almost anything that he or the Democrats propose is making a farcical comedy of America's democracy (particularly anything to do wilth climate change).

Environmental Action in a New Agreement Between the US and Nordic Countries

A recent statement from the US and Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) reaffirms their "deep partnership based on shared fundamental values" and pledged to "deepen their collaboration on important shared global priorities, including climate change, clean energy, [and] the Arctic." They further agreed to take concrete steps to achieve those goals.

One of the most important undertakings concerns these governments shared commitment to end fossil fuel subsidies and specifically the public finance of new coal-fired power plants overseas. Another serious initiative involves reducing short lived climate pollutants (SLCP). They also pledged to address impediments to sustainable economic growth and agreed to engage in concerted efforts to improve transparency.

According to the statement:

The Obama Administration's Climate Action (Spring - Summer 2013)

In the spring and summer of 2013, President Obama and his administration showed bold leadership on climate change. These actions, both domestic and international, are positioning the US as global leader on efforts to combat climate change.

The Obama Administration's initiatives are consistent with the President's climate action plan which was announced in June. This plan reigns in coal emissions, and signals an end to the US coal industry.

On April 14, 2013, the US has also agreed to work with China, Japan, the EU, Brazil, India and South Africa to reduce climate change causing greenhouse gases (GHGs). In a joint statement these countries announced that they would accelerate action by advancing cooperation on technology, research, conservation, and alternative and renewable energy. 

Combat Climate Change: 3 Ways to Support President Obama

President Obama has announced the biggest steps to fight climate change that any president has ever taken. He's not waiting around for climate deniers in Congress who won't even acknowledge the scientific fact of climate change to face reality in order to act—he's taking bold steps forward.

Here are three things you can do to get started today: 

Canadian Environment Minister: Fossil Awards are "Worn with Honour"

Canada has been awarded the “Fossil of the Year” award for its inaction on climate change for five consecutive years. However, Environment Minister Peter Kent does not seem to care, quite the contrary he claims to be proud of the dubious distinction, saying that saying that “some of those awards are worn with honour.”

The award, which is meant to be a badge of shame, was given to Canada at the 2011 UN climate change conference in Durban, South Africa. In 2012, it shared the award with New Zealand.

Reaction to President Obama's Historic Georgetown University Speech

Despite what some detractors may say, the speech delivered by President Obama at Georgetown University will reverberate across America and around the world.  June 25th, 2013 will be remembered as the day America committed itself to act domestically and lead globally on climate change.

It is not overstating the case to say the President’s speech signals an end to the debate on climate change and the beginning of a consorted effort to reign in greenhouse gas emissions.

The President’s ambitious speech has far reaching implications that involve both mitigation and adaptation. “As a president, as a father and as an American, I’m here to say we need to act,” Obama said.

Video - President Obama's Historic Georgetown University Speech on June 25th 2013

"The decisions we make now and in the years ahead will have a profound impact on the world that all of you inherit." These were the opening words of President Barack Obama's Historic speech at Georgetown University on June 25th 2013. Here is the full speech announcing the President's plan to tackle climate change, which includes new regulations on power plants, transportation, homes and buildings. Support for renewable energy and communities preparing for climate change impacts.

Infographic - President Obama's Climate Action Plan

The President's Climate Action Plan (Full Document)

Here is the Table of Contents to the full document of US President Barack Obama's Climate Action Plan announced in a June 25th 2013 speech at Georgetown University. This historic document represents the first time ever an American President has presented such a detailed strategy to combat climate change.

With the goal of cutting US emissions President Obama has presented an approach that has important implications for energy, transporation, buildings and efficiency.

The Plan also seeks to engage a science based understanding to prepare communities, the economy and resources for the impacts of climate change.

Finally Obama's strategy includes initiatives to lead the wider world in efforts to combat climate change.

Full Transcript of President Obama's Georgetown University Speech on June 25th 2013

Here is the full transcript of President Barack Obama's historic speech at Georgetown University (June 25, 2013)  announcing his new national climate strategy:

On Christmas Eve, 1968, the astronauts of Apollo 8 did a live broadcast from lunar orbit. So Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, William Anders -- the first humans to orbit the moon -- described what they saw, and they read Scripture from the Book of Genesis to the rest of us back here. And later that night, they took a photo that would change the way we see and think about our world.

Thank President Obama for His Bold Leadership on Climate Change

The climate leadership of President Obama warrents our thanks and our praise. The historic significance of his June 25, 2013 Georgetown University address cannot be overstated. Despite Republican obstructionism, the President has taken a bold step forward leading America and the world in the battle against climate change.

The Climate Reality Project is amongst those who are applauding President Obama's leadership in providing a plan to mitigate the major contributing factors to climate change. They have organized a campaign to Thank the President for putting America on the road to cutting carbon pollution.

Obama's Speech Signals the End of the Debate on Climate Change and the Dawn of Consorted Action

June 25th, 2013 will be remembered by history as the day America committed itself to act domestically and lead globally on climate change. On this day the President delivered an unprecedented speech at Georgetown University.

The President unveiled his new climate change strategy which involves mitigation, adaptation and building resilience. Specifically the President has vowed to reduce emissions from exisiting coal-fired power plants and transportation, increase renewable energy, enhance efficiency and prepare communities for the impacts of climate change.

Climate change impacts will now be factored into every governmental decision. This will have far reaching implications for the conduct of the most powerful government on earth. It will impact the government's procurement policies, new infrastructure, land and water management, and resource development.

Perhaps most importantly it is a signal to the wider world that the debate on climate change is over and the time for real consorted action has begun.

Obama has pledged to work with major polluting countries like China and India to curb emissions which builds on a recent agreement with China to phase out hydrofluorocarbons.

It is with good reason that Al Gore called it "the best Presidential address on climate change ever."

The President`s speech on June 25, 2013 is historic. This is the day America not only enjoined the struggle against climate change but assumed the leadership role.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Obama Reigning in Emissions from Existing Coal Power Plants, Transportation and Homes

On June 25th 2013, US President Barack Obama unveiled his national climate change mitigation strategy which includes mandated emissions reduction from coal plants and transportation and people's homes.

The federal government's mitigation strategy aims to reduce emissions of three major greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (Co2), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and methane (CH4).

One of the chief provisions of the plan involves reducing allowable emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. The White House indicated that 8 billion dollars will be set aside in loan guarantees to help power plants reduce their emissions.

Obama's National Climate Adaptation Strategy

Prior to the announcement of the national climate mitigation strategy on June 25th, the Obama administration launched its National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants (NFWP) Climate Adaptation Strategy. The national climate change adaptation strategy was released on March 26th, three months ahead of the mitigation strategy. It focuses on resiliency in the face of climate change. The NFWP strategy “provides a unified approach – reflecting shared principles and science-based practices – for reducing the negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, and the natural system upon which they depend.”

The strategy took two years and employs the expertise at all levels of government (federal, state, and tribal) as well as non-profit sector organizations and the American public, As stated by the NFWP team, “Fish, wildlife, and plants provide jobs, food, clean water, storm protection, health benefits and many other important ecosystem services that support people, communities and economies across the nation. Action is needed now to help safeguard these valuable natural resources and the communities that depend on them in a changing climate.”