President Obama revealed his much anticipated Climate Action Plan today where he says “we have a moral obligation to future generations to leave them with a planet that is not polluted and damaged”.
The plan tackles carbon pollution, preparedness for future climate change impacts, and collaborative international efforts to combat climate change and prepare for the future.
Here are five key take-aways:
1. Cutting Carbon - coal emissions limits
Currently there are no federal standards in place to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. Therefore, the goal will be to reduce pollution created by power plants and to “improve public health and the environment while supplying the reliable, affordable power needed for economic growth.”
In order to achieve this goal President Obama has issued a Presidential Memorandum which directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work “expeditiously to complete carbon pollution standards for both new and existing power plants”.
The reduction of methane emissions is also included in this plan, with the development of an Interagency Methane Strategy bringing together the EPA, Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Labour, and Transportation to address the issue.
Obama is also calling for the elimination of all US fossil fuel tax subsidies by the end of the 2014 fiscal year.
2. Increase renewable energy - new planning guidelines
Obama has set a very clear goal here, aiming to double current renewable energy generation by 2020. According to the plan the US more than doubled the generation of electricity from wind, solar, and geothermal sources during Obama’s first term. So, to keep moving forward the Action Plan outlines two initiatives:
1. In 2012 there were permits issued for 10 gigawatts of renewables on public lands. Obama has directed the Department of Interior to issue an additional 10 gigawatts by 2020.
2. The electric grid is to be expanded and modernized. A Presidential Memorandum has been signed that directs federal agencies to streamline the siting, permitting and review for transmission projects across federal, state, and tribal governments.
A new goal is also being set by federal agencies which aims to reach 100 megawatts of installed renewable capacity by 2020 across federally subsidized housing.
In addition, the Department of Defence - the single largest consumer of energy in the US - is committing to placing 3 gigawatts of renewable energy on military installations. This will include solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal.
Finally, at the federal level, Obama has set a target that 20 per cent of the energy consumed by the federal government will come from renewable sources by 2020.
3. Increase clean energy - $7.9bn in clean energy research
Obama has also committed to increasing the funding for clean energy research, development, and deployment by 30% (approximately 7.9 billion US dollars) for the 2014 fiscal year. In addition, up to $8 billion in loans will be made available for a wide array of “advanced fossil energy projects” such as carbon capture and storage.
The Department of Energy is set to announce a draft proposal for these projects; a final version is planned for this fall. The money made available would “support investments in innovative technologies that can cost-effectively meet financial and policy goals including the avoidance, reduction, or sequestration of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases”.
4. Eliminate Coal - no funding for overseas coal
Obama’s plan calls for an end to US government support for public financing of new coal plants overseas.
However there are two exceptions to this where support could continue: “(a) the most efficient coal technology available in the world’s poorest countries in cases where no other economically feasible alternative exists, or (b) facilities deploying carbon capture and sequestration technologies.”
5. Energy efficiency - new standards for federal buildings
Obama aims to double energy productivity by 2030 based on 2010 levels.
By setting new energy efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings, the Action Plan aims to reduce carbon pollution by a total of at least 3 billion metric tons by 2030. This is equivalent to almost one-half of the carbon pollution emitted by the US energy sector during one year.
What’s missing?
One thing that remains missing from the plan however, is any mention of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport bitumen from Alberta’s tar sands to the States for refining. While its absence comes as no surprise to many, it raises questions as to whether the tone of this plan provides any clues as to Obama’s pending decision on the pipeline.
