Obama and the Environment

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OBAMA AND THE ENVIRONMENT

SOME RELEVANT LINKS

Official Position on Environment - White House Site

RELATED WORLD FUTURE FUND PAGES

Links to the U.S. Government Links to U.S. Government Environmental Programs

Links to Sites Concerning Chemicals and Human Health Links to Environmental Organizations

KEY OBAMA ENVIRONMENTAL APPOINTMENTS

Nancy Sutley - Chairwoman, White House Council on Environmental Quality (New York Times)

Lisa P. Jackson - Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (New York Times)

Carol M. Browner - White House Coordinator of Energy and Climate Policy (New York Times)

Steven Chu - Energy Secretary (New York Times)

Ken Salazar - Secretary of the Interior (New York Times)

2009 STIMULUS PROGRAM

AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT

Official Site Complete Text of Bill (400 Pages) PDF File

Obama is a source of hope for the environmental movement. In terms of policies he represents a total and complete break with the Bush administration, which actively opposed global efforts at environmental reform.

The question is whether Obama’s plans can work without demanding draconian sacrifices from the American people. The answer is almost certainly no. The key problem is that the global economic crisis has wiped out trillions of dollars of capital needed for environmental reform. The U.S. government has already committed a staggering $12 trillion. (See our chart on this.) While most of this is likely to be regained, a lot will not be, probably about one trillion dollars, at least. Furthermore, the money committed is tied up. Most can’t be accessed without huge damage to the credit markets.

Obama is in a very difficult, if not impossible position. His “stimulus” package and bank rescue plans will use up more vitally needed capital.

While the “stimulus” plan contains many vitally needed reforms, it is a tiny fraction of what’s needed for environmental reform.

The key date is 2010. Where will the money come from more reforms? It’s not going to happen without a kind of war economy.

A big problem is that Obama’s sales pitch is some kind of happy compromise between America’s factions. The bloody cost of real reform is not likely to be accepted easily. Indeed, there will be a huge debate about what is and is not “necessary”.

What follows are some details on some major issues. Be sure to read the Green Stimulus plan from Save Our Environment and the details of the final stimulus bill passed by Congress.

OFFICIAL FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET LINKS

President Obama's Message

Official Budget Documents (By Department)

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 Full Text of Bill - PDF

The House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearings on Friday, April 24, 2009

Testimony of Al Gore and Others

This bill has sparked a bitter debate inside the environmental community. The Sierra Club, NRDC and the Environmental Defense Fund have supported it but Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are opposed. As the London Economist observes, there are serious reasons for concern.

America's climate-change bill is weaker and worse than expected (Economist, 5-21-09)

Here is the official statement of the Commerce Committee relating to the passage of the bill.

Energy and Commerce Committee Passes Comprehensive Clean Energy Legislation

The controversy over the bill is also explained further below.

US. Climate Action Partnership and Cap and Trade Controversy

Blueprint for Legislative Action

Greenpeace Attack on Blueprint for Legislative Action

Friends of Earth Attack on Blueprint for Legislative Action

Price Carbon Campaign (Also attacks cap and trade proposal.)

OBAMA PLAN ON CAR MILEAGE RATES

The White House - Press Office - President Obama Announces National Fuel Efficiency Policy

EPA GETS RIGHT TO REGULATE CARBON EMISSIONS

E.P.A. Clears Way for Greenhouse Gas Rules

Official EPA Announcement of Plans relating to Carbon Emission Monitoring

OBAMA APPROVES 42 MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL PROJECTS

Congressman Nick Rahall announced on May 15, 2009, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved 42 new permits for mountaintop removal coal mining in the Appalachian mountains. To read the Press Release click here. To read the letter of approval from the EPA to Congressman Nick Rahall click here. (PDF File) This Congressman is a strong supporter of the coal industry.

This is a political deal to keep powerful members of Congress happy. See Los Angeles Time article on this.

The result of the mining will end up destroying the Appalachian landscapes for miles and dumping tons of waste into streams and valleys. Some of the wastes are toxic. (Read Sierra Club article.) This is bad news for environmentalists who had hoped to see the end of the destruction of the Appalachian mountains. (Also check out this article and video from Mother Nature Network on the destruction of the Appalachian mountains due to the EPA.)

To see what this all involves, look at this video.