When it comes to the environment, many view the Obama Administration’s record as related to two areas: energy and climate legislation; and the clean energy and efficiency provisions of the Recovery Act.
Beyond the very impressive funds disbursed by the Department of Energy (DOE), we hear little about what’s happening in the many government agencies that also address the multitude of environmental issues our nation faces.
This article summarizes a white paper produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that outlines the remarkable number of actions Obama and his administration have taken during their first year. They have done more to protect the environment this year than in the past decade under the Bush Administration, when the environment took a back seat to every single corporate interest. While much work remains, the level of protection has been raised in many areas and much of the damage from the previous administration has been reversed.
Just today (end of January), President Obama signed an executive order requiring the federal government to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 28% by 2020. The federal government is the nation’s single largest energy consumer and GHG emitter and spends $25 billion a year on energy costs.
The long list of accomplishments includes:
– a crucial about-face in our attitude toward the environment – basing decisions on science rather than corporate interests, and thus allowing the EPA to do its job in regulating greenhouse gases.
– putting us on a path to a green economy through breathtaking funding for efficiency and clean energy initiatives through the Recovery Act
– calling on Congress to pass far-reaching climate and energy legislation
– understanding and acknowledging the urgency of the threat of climate change
– reestablishing the U.S. as a leader on addressing climate change with the global community
The shift in the style of governing is as notable as the specific policy changes. Obama appointed DOE Secretary Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winner who is committed to efficiency and clean energy; Lisa Jackson as Head of EPA, who is reviewing and reversing many Bush administration positions that lacked legal or scientific basis; Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, who, for the first time, is steering transportation policy toward mass transit and smart growth; and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who is moving away from extractive policies to renewable energy and a focus on landscape scale conservation. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is giving more attention to organic agriculture and Jane Lubchenco, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is using her substantial scientific expertise to protect the world’s oceans.
Facilitating the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy
– About 14% of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains funding for cleantech research and initiatives, totaling about $100 billion. It allocates long overdue funding for cleantech R&D including battery research and commercialization and clean energy technology hubs, high speed rail, energy retrofits and weatherization, green job training, and tax credits/ grants for renewable energy projects.
– Federal lighting standards for tube-shaped fluorescent bulbs – the single largest energy savings appliance standard ever enacted by the DOE.
– Reversed decades of inaction on fuel economy/greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks. In addition to raising vehicle standards to 35 mpg, the EPA granted California its long awaited waiver, allowing it to implement Clean Car standards ("Pavley" standards).
– Reversed inaction on power plant and factory emissions: starting in March 2010, large power plants and factories must report on emissions and use best available control technologies for GHG. The EPA plans to set GHG performance standards for power plants, oil refineries, and cement manufacturers in 2010.
– The "Livability Partnership" dovetails the work of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the EPA so that smart growth principles are employed when making transportation and housing development decisions.
– The EPA’s proposed science-based rule on implementing the Renewable Fuel Standard includes full lifecycle accounting for the GHG emissions of various biofuels (it’s being fought by special interests).
Protecting Air, Water and Food
The EPA changed course on Bush policies by subjecting many of them to scientific reviews and implementing necessary environmental protections.
– Issued regulations to sharply reduce air toxins and soot pollution from power plants, such as coal- and oil-burning plants, by November 2011. The Bush EPA had declared such controls unnecessary.
– Proposed a rule to reduce smog and soot pollution from large ships by over 80% starting in 2015. Ships within 200 miles of the U.S. coast will have to use cleaner fuels and emission controls.
– $6 billion from the Recovery Act to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure, including water/ energy efficiency and green infrastructure.
– The Chesapeake Bay Executive Order commits federal agencies to collaboratively restore the Bay and its watershed. Obama’s federal sustainability executive order issued in October also commits federal agencies to stringent standards for controlling stormwater pollution from all development and redevelopment projects.
– Regulation of perchlorate in drinking water and potential regulation of Atrazinem, a dangerous herbicide that’s pervasive in Midwest surface and groundwater. The Bush Administration removed regulations for altrazinem and refused to regulate perchlorate.
– After 30 years, the EPA is addressing chemicals of concern by reforming and strengthening the Toxic Substance Control Act and developing Chemical Action Plans for a number of toxic substances.
Protecting Oceans, Wildlife, Wildlands
Although most decisions point to dramatic differences on natural resource protection, the Obama administration has continued some of the unfortunate policies of the Bush administration: so far refusing to protect endangered wolves and grizzly bears; has yet to stop mountaintop mining; and proposed USDA appointees that are cozy with GMO lobbyists.
– In a Presidential Memorandum (June 2009), Obama called for a national oceans policy that protects and restores ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. His Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force is set to report recommendations in February.
– The Navy’s use of sonar injures and kills whales and causes widespread disruption in whale, dolphin, and porpoise species. This practice is under review as well as protecting habitats from sonar.
– Proposed increased protections for polar bears under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which would strengthen international regulation of polar bear trophy hunting and ban commercial trade in polar bear parts.
– The Interior Department canceled the sale of 77 oil and gas leases in wilderness quality lands in Utah, and canceled lease sales and Wyoming, which were proposed by the Bush administration.
– Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack approved decisions to restore the nationwide Roadless Rule, which protects large, roadless areas of the National Forest System from development.
– Some steps to curtail destructive mountaintop removal for coal operations, which the Bush administration facilitated through policy changes and lax enforcement.
Restoring U.S. Leadership Internationally
At the start of the Obama administration our nation’s international influence was severely lacking. President Obama’s policy of reengagement, led by Secretary Hillary Clinton, has been well received around the world.
– Obama’s personal leadership was critical to securing the Copenhagen Accord. In 13 hours of concerted negotiations, he helped bridge key differences between developed and developing countries, including China and India.
– During President Obama’s visit to China in November, the countries announced a package of clean energy cooperation initiatives in energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage, a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, and a U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program intended to engage the private sector.
– Visits to India by Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Energy Chu, and a high-level U.S.- India Energy Partnership Summit in Washington, culminated in a Green Partnership between the US and India. It includes agreements to enhance cooperation on energy security, energy efficiency, clean energy and climate change; partnering on solar and wind research; reducing emissions from deforestation; and support from the U.S. EPA to establish India’s new National Environmental Protection Authority.
– During the Fifth Summit of the Americas, President Obama launched the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, which aims to deepen hemispheric cooperation on addressing climate change. The DOE since signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Chile to provide renewable energy technical expertise as well as a Renewable Energy Center in Chile, with future centers expected in Peru and Mexico.
– Quickly moved to curb nuclear weapons and proliferation. Obama outlined a new approach to nuclear security, which for the first time, explicitly lays out concrete steps toward a world without nuclear weapons. Terminating near-term U.S. commercial production of plutonium is a major step forward for nuclear security and fiscal sanity.
– the State Department in concert with the United Nations, agreed to negotiate a legally binding instrument to control global mercury use and emissions, a complete shift from previous years.
Looking Ahead: Expectations for 2010
At the top of the list is the need to continue to push Congress to pass comprehensive, effective clean energy and climate legislation, and sound transportation policy. Passing these bills will literally move America into a new direction on energy security. Internationally, the Obama administration will need to continue to engage with other countries to forge a strong binding global agreement on climate change, including increasing the transparency, verification and enforcement of carbon pollution reduction efforts.
The laundry list of steps the Obama Administration has taken over the past 12 months demonstrate that when it comes to governing America, citizens need to look below the surface to understand the plethora of decisions and actions necessary to protect the health of our citizens and our natural environment.
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http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/obamarecord/
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