As a green business owner who’s been waiting for action on climate for some time, I looked for his speech on TV – and couldn’t find it. CNN was covering the George Zimmerman trial. And MSNBC was covering the Edgar Snowden story. I wound up reading it online. Sigh – this is typical of a topic that is routinely under-reported despite its critical importance.
To save you the time of reading his 6,000 word speech or reading the 20 page PDF, here’s my summary of the plan. It outlines the need to:
- Cut carbon pollution by (1) using less dirty energy like coal, (2) transitioning to cleaner sources of energy like renewables (solar and wind) and natural gas, and (3) wasting less energy throughout the economy.
- Prepare the US for the impacts of climate change that can’t be avoided at this point. This means building smarter, more resilient infrastructure that can protect homes and businesses, and withstand more powerful storms.
- Lead international efforts to combat a changing climate. “Though all America’s carbon pollution fell last year, global carbon pollution rose to a record high. That’s a problem.”
Throughout the speech, President Obama reminded listeners that “there’s no contradiction between a sound environment and strong economic growth.” Very true.
If you’d like to read the speech, here’s a link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-25/-we-need-to-act-transcript-of-obama-s-climate-change-speech.html
And here’s the full plan for all you detail junkies: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf
As a green business owner, I look at every part of the plan and think “jobs.” Not just a job for me because I serve green businesses and organizations. But jobs for EVERYONE. And that means a healthy, growing economy.
New energy sources – whether they are renewables like wind and solar or a fuel like natural gas – mean jobs HERE in the United States. Wasting less energy means smaller energy bills for consumers and less pollution. But it’s also a huge opportunity for new and existing businesses to create new products that better measure and manage energy flows.
“Preparing for impact” means more infrastructure jobs on roads, bridges, tunnels, water treatment systems, the power grid. ALL of these sectors need to be assessed and strengthened to withstand more severe weather. That takes construction and engineering jobs. I watched the collapse of the housing bubble right here in Florida, and the devastation visited on the construction industry. I welcome a plan that creates jobs for my neighbors and makes us all safer in the face of the turbulent weather ahead.
And taking the lead in international climate efforts? That should be a given. The US’s historic role as a HUGE emitter of greenhouse gases means it’s incumbent upon us to clean up our act. But our nation’s capacity to innovate, implement, and scale up fast – that’s just what the doctor ordered. We’ll need scientists, diplomats, academics, business people – everyone needs to be part of the conversation going forward. It will take all of us to figure this out and share the results. I think the world is waiting for us to act.
Thank you, President Obama, for stepping up to the plate on this. And in case you’re wondering, yes, “I’m in.”
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