CQ NEWS
Jan. 21, 2013 – 2:43 p.m.
Obama Renews Call for Addressing Climate Change
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Roll Call
President
“It won’t be what he tried to do last time,” Rep.
Environmentalists were thrilled to hear Obama stress global warming as one of his top second-term priorities — especially after a reelection campaign during which the issue was seldom mentioned.
“We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations,” Obama said. “Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms.”
Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman
“They can take care of about 75 percent of emissions under the Clean Air Act,” Boxer said, referring to the scope of the agency’s authority under the 1970 environmental law (PL 91-704). “We’d love it if he did more than that. I don’t know at this point what he will ask for. He may look at the vehicle fuels sector, and look at some cleaner fuels. He could go there. He could help me with what I am doing, which is to try to make buildings more efficient. Buildings are responsible for a big chunk of emissions.”
Legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions passed the House in 2009 but died in the Senate when a potential bipartisan coalition fell apart. The administration then turned to a regulatory approach, negotiating a deal with automakers to reduce emissions through a dramatic increase in vehicle fuel economy standards and moving to regulate emissions by coal-burning power plants and other industrial polluters.
With Republicans — including many who continue to reject a link between human activity and global warming — now controlling the House, legislative prospects for action are considered unlikely. The White House spent much of the last two years successfully fending off GOP efforts to pass legislation aimed at tying the hands of regulators. That defensive posture is likely to continue during the second term.
Alabama Republican
“Nobody has all the answers,” Sessions said.
In the House, Energy and Commerce Chairman
Environmentalists will be looking to the president’s decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline as the first big test of his commitment on global warming. Obama is expected to decide in the coming months whether to allow the pipeline from Canada, which environmentalists oppose because it would expand oil production in the Alberta tar sands. Critics say huge amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted in extracting and processing that oil.
“The Sierra Club’s 2.1 million members and supporters urge the president to cement our nation’s position as the global clean energy leader by going all in on sustainable energy, holding polluters accountable, and rejecting the dangerous tar sands pipeline,” Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said. “We will work tirelessly to ensure the transition to safe, clean energy sources to fight the most pressing challenge of our time.”
Obama Renews Call for Addressing Climate Change
Obama also promised to continue efforts to promote development of sustainable energy sources, even though he acknowledged it “will be long and sometimes difficult.”
“But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it,” he added. “We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries — we must claim its promise.”
League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski praised Obama’s “continued commitment to clean technologies and protecting our planet.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration to ensure that clean energy jobs are built here at home while reducing harmful global warming pollution,” Karpinski said.
Karpinski also lauded the president for making the “link between climate change and extreme weather.” While many Republican lawmakers still question the role that humans play in the warming planet, adapting to the impact of the extreme weather events that have been occurring more frequently may offer a limited area for some legislative action.
The House passed legislation (
Former EPA Administrator Carol Browner, who served as the top White House adviser on climate and energy issues during the first two years of the Obama administration, praised the president for giving global warming prominence in his address.
“He is sending a clear signal that we can expect strong leadership from him in his second term on climate change and clean energy,” she said.