Opinions on climate change have thundered across the media since President Obama's announcement to set a national standard for power plants and the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) they emit. Opponents of action on climate change portray the plan as a tax on Americans, while supporters praise the action as a step forward, but also warn that more is needed.
Fact: US power plant #climate pollution would be the 7th largest emitter in the world if it were a country-cuts do matter #actonclimate
Well, Obama aims to accomplish a lot more on the global stage.
On May 28 the President gave the commencement speech at West Point that acted as a comprehensive outline of his administration's national security policy. One key message Obama conveyed was that "American influence is always stronger when we lead by example." He continued to criticize political leaders that deny climate change.
The EPA initiative to reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 30% of 2005 levels is a momentous step for domestic policy. The justifications for this policy should not even need to mention climate change. The amounts of CO2 power plants currently emit are known to aggravate respiratory problems, including asthma and bronchitis, and increase the likelihood of severe weather storms, which ultimately costs hundreds of millions in tax payer money.
Though setting a standard for power plant air pollution is smart for American health, this action alone is not enough to control the threat of global warming. Climate change is a global issue that demands a global solution.
We're keeping up our work to combat #climatechange w/ @EPA's new Clean Power Plan. But as POTUS said, global effort needed. #ActOnClimate
"For the world to overcome the enormous threat climate change poses, we need every country to do everything within its power to pursue cleaner and healthier energy sources." Secretary Kerry emphasized how imperative a global effort is in his Financial Times Op-Ed. "We need to pursue the UN climate negotiations with vigor and determination toward an ambitious global agreement in Paris next year."
This is how America will lead by example. The US domestic policy tells all other countries that climate change is a dangerous issue and America, the wealthiest and most influential country, is taking it seriously.
The Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has noted the positive effect Obama's action will have for the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris.
Decision by @BarackObama 2 launch plans to more tightly regulate emissions from power plants = good signal 2 all nations ahead of #Paris2015
What's more is that our leadership to set standards on power plant carbon pollution has already sparked a Chinese adviser on climate change to announce that may China cap its carbon emissions in 2016. The statement captures the influence American leadership can have.
China has been the largest CO2 emitter in the world since 2006 when it over-took the US. China's air pollution has reached levels 20x worse than what the World Health Organization suggests. Chinese citizens have demanded government action against the terrible state of carbon pollution. This led to the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang declaring a "war on pollution."
Even if China doesn't carry out the suggested carbon cap, it wouldn't mean their government isn't committed to some form of proactive action against the negative effects of climate change. The Wilson Center's China Environemnt Forum spread the word on several of China's smaller steps to combat pollution.
China's Ministry of Environment issued four new emission-cut standards on Friday. http://t.co/YpT7WRtipq
With American and Chinese leaders tackling pollution and climate change aggressively, there could be strong hope for a global agreement to curb the disastrous consequences of climate change.
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