All the world is talking today about USA’s 44th president, Barack Obama. We will just review his environment agenda.
A long time ago, President Obama announced his agenda as very different from what we are used to. He lets us see that US economy can not only not lose, but also win from keeping environmental policies at the front.
Let me tell you, very short, the plans (you can also see them on whitehouse.gov):
- Investing $150 billion in the next ten years to build a clean energy future; this will create 5 million new jobs;
- Within 10 years save more oil than the US currently imports from the Middle East and Venezuela altogether.
- Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars on US roads, by 2015
- Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.
The last point is also very interesting:
- Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.
California shows what the US could do: helping the population install solar panels. In California, the local government is offering important rebates to those who are installing solar panels. The project is called Go Solar California!
Until now, the US have always tried to keep “at the edge” on having environmentally politics. At least the politicians tried, but never took it very seriously. Taking care of our world has been seen as an obstacle in our economy’s development, so not only did they not try to be “green”, but they also tried to convince us we don’t need green energy. Obama is the first one that seems to see the issues and take advantage of them. Why fight protecting the environment when you can take advantage of it?
I am glad to see Obama doing this and I will follow his plan going live for the next months and years. Together, we can see how the US can make a change.
