US News
Obama: US ready to lead on energy, climate issues (Roundup)
Jan 26, 2009, 20:07 GMT
US President Barack Obama delivers remarks on jobs, energy independence and climate change from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, 26 January 2009. Fourteen states will be able to mandate greater auto fuel efficiency than the federal government requires under a plan that Obama announced. EPA/SHAWN THEW
Washington - President Barack Obama on Monday said the United States was prepared to take a new leading role in confronting the threat of climate change and using renewable energy to help wean the country off its dependence on foreign oil.
Obama signalled a clean break in climate and energy policy from the administration of former president George W Bush, which was criticized for playing down the dangers of climate change and putting little pressure on companies to reduce pollution.
'We will make it clear to the world that America is ready to lead,' Obama said at the White House, where he outlined his administration's energy policy and signed two new executive orders related to improving the fuel efficiency of US cars.
Obama said the US would call together a 'truly global coalition' to address climate change and challenged other top polluters like China and India to follow the new US lead in cutting greenhouse-gas emissions blamed for global warming.
Obama said 'sound science' would come ahead of 'rigid ideology' and vowed to address the energy debate that has confounded US presidents since the oil crisis of the 1970s. He said tackling energy dependence was critical to US national security and pulling the world's largest economy out of recession.
'America has arrived at a crossroads,' Obama said. 'The days of Washington dragging its heels are over. My administration will not deny facts, we will be guided by them.'
The speech mirrored Obama's election campaign rhetoric, where he promised a new focus on climate change that would include putting a price on the pollution of dirty industries.
As a 'first step,' Obama signed executive orders that would set new standards for fuel-efficiency and allow US states to adopt more aggressive policies on their own.
Specifically, Obama directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review California's request to implement tougher standards on fuel-efficiency - a move that was blocked by the EPA under Bush.
But the mandates come at a time where US carmakers are threatened with bankruptcy. Car sales have plummeted amid the US recession and executives have been forced to turn to the government for emergency loans.
Obama promised to aid carmakers with their transition to greener cars and touted the renewable energy investments that are part of an 825-billion-dollar economic stimulus package making its way through Congress.
US environmental groups said Obama's announcement indicated a new willingness to link economic growth with environmental protections.
'The presidents announcement, along with his determination to move forward on a cap on carbon pollution, shows us that he really gets it,' said David Yarnold, executive director of the Environmental Defense Fund.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Infact, the 'solution' to the energy policies has been demonstrated for decades and is obvious. There are three states:
(1) Fuel below $4/gallon and innovation stops.
(2) Fuel above $4/gallon and innovation starts.
(3) Fuel oscillates below and above $4/gallon and anarchy and economic ruination abounds.
The U.S. government prefers (3) as the 'solution' (stupid, stupid).
Again, a labyrinth of rules and laws as proposed by Obama will NOT bring innovation.
But, the obvious and well demonstrated affect of (2) above DOES and HAS brought innovation in the energy field. DEMONSTRATED and PROVEN innovation.
Who cares what you think. You do not live in the US, please STFU!
... then, start pouring money into global warming and see just how popular it really is.
... what did I tell you.
When faced with PROVEN and VERIFIED solutions, typical U.S. citizens resort to name calling and fear tactics.
... next you will be saying: 'lance has WMDs' and 'lance is a terrorists'.
God not I would not say that. I treat people who do not have a clue with a bit of respect, their ignorance is unavoidable. It would help if you lived in the US, but sans that you are of no use to us.
... more name calling, anyone outside the U.S. does not count and should shut up. No one has an opinion except patriotic rednecks from the U.S., unless it is a cheap import it is not a solution, etc. etc.
Good. You are demonstrating more typical U.S. citizen (as well as the U.S. president and U.S. congress) traits that show how the U.S. fails.
Thank you for such excellent demonstrations.
is only regulating CO2, not methane from cows which is a bigger problem. Even if they would just stop giving massive tax breaks to developers it would be a good start since every new home is a major producer of greenhouse gases. Or stop subsidizing cow farmers.
It's a bit of a joke that California will regulate greenhouse gases. Or that Detroit deserves taxpayer dollars to develop better cars. Detroit was the leader in buying up green technology and killing it.
'Detroit was the leader in buying up green technology and killing it.'
This is what G.M. did to their last Electric Vehicle:
(Open image URL in web browser):
ev1-club.power.net/archive/031219/jpg/after2.jpg
Also, see this:
www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar
passes even more gas.
Stupid Americans, rednecks, etc.
You sir are a hypocrite as well as a wiki quoting idiot. Not to mention the bad teeth. You are obviosly frustrated. What's wrong? Can't get a date? Tired of pulling your pud? Boyfriend won't fancy your fag? What makes you so angry, Lance?
... more typical U.S. citizen name calling.
No solutions mentioned by typical U.S. citizens except to grease the wheels with welfare checks.
There are two things that will get the typical U.S. citizen fighting mad to the point of mass killing people:
(1) Get between them and their welfare check.
(2) Get between them and their cheap import consumer products.
Either one is a 'threat to liberty, freedom and the American way of life'.
In the old days U.S. citizens were concerned about important things and welfare meant food and basic health benefits for the children (not even the parents!). Today welfare means big flat screen T.V.s, F-150 super pickup trucks and the cheap gas and electricity to run them for the parents, and the kids are saddled with debt (the hell with them).
Anything that interferes with that welfare, such as a reasonable energy policy, it a threat to the NEW welfare of the NEW typical U.S. citizen.
I guess we just don't care what you have to say....
page: 1
lanceJan 26th, 2009 - 21:17:33
... history repeats itself over and over. Every president says the same lies. They even meet with felons and con artists like CEO, etc. from Enron to impress people.
Yawn.
Wake me up when someone does something. The fact is: Innovation has never come from the president's office. They should wake up and realize that.
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