|
 |
Obama announces government greenhouse gas emissions targets
President Obama set greenhouse gas emissions targets for the federal government, announcing Friday that it would aim to reduce its emissions by 28 percent in 2020.
"As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient," Obama sent in a statement. "Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy."
The White House estimated a savings of $8 billion to $11 billion in energy costs, and Nancy Sutley, who chairs the White House Council on Environmental Quality, estimated that it would amount to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 88 million metric tons by 2020 -- equivalent to taking 17 million cars off the road for one year.
The initiative, Sutley told reporters, "will hold the federal government accountable for leading by example."
But it is not as sweeping as it could have been: It does not, for instance, include emissions that stem from the activity of federal suppliers, or from federal employees' commutes. And while the Defense Department pledged Friday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in non-combat areas 34 percent by 2020, this pledge does not include combat operations, which account for 62 percent of the department's carbon footprint.
"That would not be responsible," said Dorothy Robyn, deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment at the Pentagon.
Still, environmentalists and Democrats in Congress praised the move.
"I am very pleased that President Obama has set aggressive, but realistic, targets for reducing energy use by federal agencies," said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who chairs the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security.
And Frances Beinecke, president of the advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council, called the initiative "a great deal for the American taxpayers and a great example for the rest of the country."
Obama's announcement came hours after his administration delivered a non-binding pledge to other countries that the United States would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
The Obama administration submitted its reduction target to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat under the Copenhagen Accord, a non-binding deal brokered by the United States last month at the U.N.-sponsored climate talks. Under the deal President Obama helped secure in Copenhagen, major emitters of greenhouse gases are expected to "inscribe" their reduction targets by Jan. 31.
The international commitment states that the United States will cut its emissions "in the range of 17 percent, in conformity with anticipated U.S. energy and climate legislation, recognizing that the final target will be reported to the Secretariat in light of enacted legislation." It remains unclear if Congress will pass a comprehensive climate bill this year.
Several key developing nations, such as China and India, have not yet indicated what they will commit to under the agreement.
Source: The Washington Post, January 29, 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/01/obama-announces-government-gre.html
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Going Green eNewsletter,
please contact the AIT Marketing Department. |
|
Back to top