Obama vows "new chapter" on climate
President-elect Barack Obama may not attend a United Nations climate summit in Poland next month, but he's made clear he'll chart a more active US response to the global environmental threat once he moves into the White House.
In a video message to governors at a California climate summit, Obama pledged to write a "new chapter" in White House leadership on the issue. The Democratic president-elect committed his administration to reducing greenhouse gas emissions - and to joining in international efforts that were shunned or deflected by the Bush administration over the past eight years.
"Few challenges facing America -and the world - are more urgent than combating climate change,'' Obama said. "The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear. Sea levels are rising. Coastlines are shrinking. We've seen record drought, spreading famine and storms that are growing stronger with each passing hurricane season."
You can see Obama's videotaped message on YouTube, or read more about it here.
Obama and Republican John McCain both had vowed during the campaign to tackle climate change if elected president. The Democratic ticket called for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050, using "cap-and-trade" regulations. It also promised to invest $15 billion a year in developing alternative energy such as solar, wind, biofuels and even nuclear and "clean" coal.
Environmentalists had been urging Obama to dramatize his commitment to the issue by attending next month's UN climate summit in Poland. Hundreds of activists rallied in front of the Capitol in Washington today, with Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen among the speakers.
In his taped remarks, Obama demurred, pointing out that he won't be sworn in by then and "the United States only has one president at a time." But he said he's asked members of Congress who will be attending the UN meeting to report back to him. And he pledged to actively engage in future negotiations over a coordinated international response. Talks are beginning on drafting a new climate compact to replace the Kyoto accord, which the United States never ratified.
Coincidentally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that combined global land and sea-surface average temperatures last month were the second warmest since record-keeping began in 1880. For details, go here.
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I report on the environment and Chesapeake Bay. A native of West Virginia, I have focused mainly on Maryland's environment since moving here in 1983. Along the way, I've crewed aboard a skipjack in the bay, canoed under city streets up the Jones Fall from the Inner Harbor, and gone deep underground in a western Maryland coal mine. Recently, I have been covering the growth and development transforming the landscape. I love seafood, rambles in the country and good stories. I hope to share some here.
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President-elect Obama was very explicit in his intention to implement a carbon cap-and-trade system to reduce CO2 emissions, with an 80% reduction goal by 2050, and it should be mentioned that John McCain also deserves credit for supporting cap-and-trade. To me, these developments are a clear sign of how far the world, following the universal lead of science, has moved past arguing whether CO2 reduction is necessary, and is discussing how to accomplish it. It's probably unrealistic to expect that all voices resisting a transition from fossil fuels to an economy reliant on renewable energy will immediately fall silent, but those who want their voices heard rather than ignored would probably be wise to engage in the discussion of carbon remediation options. The upcoming meeting in Poland will be another important step, although it's regrettable that China will not be participating from what I understand. Even so, China has already begun to match rhetoric with some constructive actions to reduce the magnitude of its CO2 emissions while it continues to promote its industrialization efforts, and its desire to receive help from the West in implementing carbon control technologies deserves a favorable response from the industrialized nations.
Fred Moolten
Posted by: Fred Moolten | November 18, 2008 10:45 PM
Global warming may reduce biodiversity as the distribution of species and their populations may shift towards the poles and higher altitudes, leaving those endemic to arctic and high mountain regions vulnerable. In addition, changes in the ranges of disease spreading species (aka vector species) may exacerbate the spread of disease among humans and other species such as malaria.
Global warming and CO2 emissions issues are discussed in detail at http://www.onebiosphere.com
Actions to address the impacts of climate change may be beneficial or harmful to biodiversity. Carbon sequestration initiatives designed to mitigate impacts of greenhouse gases may lead to adverse impacts on biodiversity by creating monoculture forestry. Avoiding deforestation through forest conservation projects may be beneficial for climate change mitigation, forest biodiversity conservation, reducing desertification and improving economic functions. Climate change will also affect biodiversity conservation strategies. One half of the protected areas will shift from one climate zone to another and the effects will be very pronounced at higher latitudes and altitudes. Adjustment of protected area boundaries will need to occur to achieve stated conservation goals.
The relationship between energy production and biodiversity has been affected by policy responses in recent decades such as the promotion of organic farming and the reduction in agricultural nitrogen use. Obtaining governmental commitments has been challenging due to problems in securing financing and lack of political will or vision. Ensuring access to energy while maintaining biodiversity and vital ecosystem services will require an integrated multi-sector approach.
Posted by: g. green | December 8, 2008 8:21 PM
Global warming may reduce biodiversity as the distribution of species and their populations may shift towards the poles and higher altitudes, leaving those endemic to arctic and high mountain regions vulnerable. In addition, changes in the ranges of disease spreading species (aka vector species) may exacerbate the spread of disease among humans and other species such as malaria.
Global warming and CO2 emissions issues are discussed in detail at http://www.onebiosphere.com
Actions to address the impacts of climate change may be beneficial or harmful to biodiversity. Carbon sequestration initiatives designed to mitigate impacts of greenhouse gases may lead to adverse impacts on biodiversity by creating monoculture forestry. Avoiding deforestation through forest conservation projects may be beneficial for climate change mitigation, forest biodiversity conservation, reducing desertification and improving economic functions. Climate change will also affect biodiversity conservation strategies. One half of the protected areas will shift from one climate zone to another and the effects will be very pronounced at higher latitudes and altitudes. Adjustment of protected area boundaries will need to occur to achieve stated conservation goals.
The relationship between energy production and biodiversity has been affected by policy responses in recent decades such as the promotion of organic farming and the reduction in agricultural nitrogen use. Obtaining governmental commitments has been challenging due to problems in securing financing and lack of political will or vision. Ensuring access to energy while maintaining biodiversity and vital ecosystem services will require an integrated multi-sector approach.
Posted by: g. green | December 9, 2008 12:16 AM