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The United States Climate Change Policy |
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Why Didn't the U.S. Ratify the Kyoto Protocol?
Even before the protocol was negotiated in final text in Kyoto, in July 1997 the US Senate voted 95-0 that the US should not sign an agreement that would either threaten the economic health of the US or would impose binding requirements on the US without also imposing binding requirements on developing countries. As a result, the Clinton-Gore Administration never submitted the Protocol to the Senate to be ratified. Various economic analyses were done by the Clinton Administration, Congressional Budget Office and others with differing conclusions concerning the effect the Kyoto Protocol would have on U.S. GDP. The Bush Administration has also said that it will not submit the Kyoto Protocol for ratification in Congress because President Bush opposes the omission of China and developing countries from emission limitations and he worries about the impact on the U.S. economy.
US Federal Government Climate Change Policy
The Bush administration did very little to act on the threat of global climate change in any comprehensive and binding manner. The White House under President Bush put forth a policy that encourages industry through voluntary cooperation to reduce their emission levels but without any enforcement mechanism. The Pew Research Center in its review of the Bush Administration's position on climate change maintains that the "Administration has rejected the Kyoto Protocol without proposing an alternative international framework, and set a voluntary domestic GHG intensity target that would allow U.S. emissions to actually increase by 12 percent by 2012" (source: www.pewclimate.org). Although a decline in energy intensity is a good goal to have, the realities are that this also needs to be coupled with other measures. Research shows that declining energy intensity is offset by growth in per capita income and population. As an example, Working Group III reports in their IPCC 4th Assessment report that "the effect on global emissions of the decrease in global energy intensity (-33%) during 1970 to
2004 has been smaller than the combined effect of global per capita income growth (77 %) and
global population growth (69%); both drivers of increasing energy-related CO2 emissions."
However, a new era is upon us. With Barack Obama now in office, the goals of the Obama-Biden comprehensive New Energy for America plan include:
- Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
- Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.
- Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.
- Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
- Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
For more information on the Obama agenda, click here.
State Governments Take Action Against Climate Change
California has been the leader on many environmental initiatives throughout recent history; it is also the 12th largest emitter of carbon in the world. In September 2006, California passed AB-32, California's Global Warming law, which will require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop regulations and market mechanisms that will ultimately reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. Mandatory caps will begin in 2012 for significant sources and ratchet down to meet the 2020 goals. (Source: Office of the Governor). To help reach these emissions reduction, the Governor passed an Executive Order that would establish a Low Carbon Fuel Standard that would initally reduce the car intensity of California's passenger vehicle fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020.
Additionally, since 2004 the Governor has been petitioning the US EPA for a waiver to implement its motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards. The standards would require automakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mainly carbon dioxide, by 22 percent by the 2012 model year and 30 percent by the 2016 model year. Under the Federal Clean Air Act, California has the right to set its own vehicle emission standards. Other states have the right to adopt the California standards as their own, upon receipt of a waiver from the U.S. EPA. The US EPA has still not ruled on whether a waiver will be granted to California for this purpose. Governor Schwarzenegger has threaten law suit if the EPA does not rule on this by Oct. 24, 2007. Stay tuned.
Florida's Governor is ready to follow suit with these standards assuming Calfornia gains EPA approval while eleven other states have adopted California's vehicle emissions standards - Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard |
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| Contact your representative in Congress to voice your opinion about the U.S. government's lack of direction on climate change. Contact members of Congress. >> |
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Learn about Industry Partnerships with the EPA |
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| While there isn't a clear federal climate change policy, there are many on-going programs within the US government to encourage businesses to think about the environment. Learn about industry partnerships with the EPA. >> |
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States Are Taking the Lead in the Absence of a Comprehensive Federal Policy |
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Around the country, state governments are recognizing the need to take action against global climate change. States are setting emission
reduction targets, mandating investment in renewables and energy efficiency, and
developing plans to mitigate climate change. Learn how states are taking action against climate change. >> |
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Top Ten Green Cities |
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| National Geographic's GreenGuide ranks the top ten "green" cities. Like states, in the absence of federal direction, cities across the country are taking global climate change into their own hands and reducing their burden on the planet. As of July 13, 2007, 600 mayors have have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7% below 1990 levels by 2012. |
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