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President Obama's Plan to Fight Climate Change

CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ACTION PLAN PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS ANNOUNCED A SERIES OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TO REDUCE CARBON POLLUTION, PREPARE THE U.S. FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND LEAD INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THE WEATHER IS GETTING MORE EXTREME 2012 WAS THE SECOND MOST EXTREME YEAR ON RECORD FOR THE NATION SOURCE: NOAA, U.S. CLIMATE EXTREMES INDEX RECORD HEAT ACROSS THE U.S. STATE-BY-STATE TEMPERATURES IN 2012 ALSO IN 2012: AVG. TEMP WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR THE U.S. Doesn't include Alaska, Hawail, or U.S. territories. sauRct: NOAA RECORD HIGH 356 TEMPERATURES TIED OR BROKEN IN THE UNITED STATES. SOURCE: NDAA, STATE OF THE CLIMATE REPORT ATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE U.S. POPULATION EXPERIENCED 6TH-10TH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD 2ND-5TH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD ABOVE AVERAGE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD 100° TEMPERATURES SOURCE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER/NESDIS/NDAAV FOR TEN OR MORE DAYS. Doesn't include Alaska, Hawaji or U.S. territories. SOURCE: NOAA DROUGHTS, WILDFIRES, AND FLOODS ARE ALL MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE PRECIPITATION WAS 2.57 INCHES BELOW THE 20TH CENTURY AVERAGE. 15TH DRIEST YEAR ON RECORD WILDFIRES BURNED MORE THAN 9.3 MILLION U.S. ACRES SOURCE NOAA SOURCE: NATICNAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATION CENTER EXTREME WEATHER COMES AT A COST CLIMATE AND WEATHER DISASTERS IN 2012 COST THE AMERICAN ECONOMY MORE THAN $100 BILLION $30 BILLION U.S. DROUGHT/HEATWAVE $1 BILLION WESTERN WILDFIRES ESTIMATED ACROSS THE U.S. ESTIMATED $2.3 BILLION HURRICANE ISAAC $65 BILLION SUPERSTORM SANDY ESTIMATED ES TIMATED $11.1 BILLION COMBINED SEVERE WEATHER ESTIMATED FOR INCIDENTS ACROSS THE U.S. THERE ARE ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREME WEATHER Children, the elderly, and the poor are most vulnerable to a range of climate-related health effects, including those related to heat stress, air pollution, extreme weather events, and diseases carried by food, water, and insects. WE CAN CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT SUPERSTORM SANDY, AND THE MOST SEVERE DROUGHT IN DECADES, AND THE WORST WILDFIRES SOME STATES HAVE EVER SEEN WERE ALL JUST A FREAK COINCIDENCE. OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN THE OVERWHELMING JUDGMENT OF SCIENCE – AND ACT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE." - PRESIDENT OBAMA WE'RE STILL CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM CARBON POLLUTION IS THE BIGGEST DRIVER OF CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION INCLUDES: 84% CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) 8% Enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oll), solld waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of certain chemical reactilons (e.g., manufacture of cement). 33% AGRI- CULTURE ELECTRICITY 11% 2% COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL FLUORINATED GASES Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a varlety of Industrlal processes TOTAL U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY ECONOMIC SECTOR IN 2011 5% NITROUS OXIDE (N20) 20% Emitted during agricultural and Industrial activitles, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and sollid waste. INDUSTRY 9% METHANE (CH4) Emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oll as well as from landfills. 28% TRANSPORTATION SOURCE: EPA WE'VE MADE PROGRESS THANKS TO: SOURCE: ERA STRONGER FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS DOUBLED RENEWABLE ENERGY DECREASED CARBON POLLUTION In 2012, U.S. Energy Sector carbon pollution fell to the lowest level In nearly 20 years. We set the highest fuel economy standards In American history that will double the efficlency of our cars and trucks by 2025. We doubled renewable energy generation from from wind and solar resources. BUT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO CUT CARBON POLLUTION IN AMERICA REDUCING CARBON POLLUTION FROM POWER PLANTS PROGRESS: PROGRESS: Power plants are the largest major source of emislons In the U.S., together accounting for roughly 40 percent of all domestic greenhouse gas pollution. Renewable energy accounts for about halt of all new generation capacity Installed In 2012. 35 states have renewable energy targets In place, and more than 25 have set energy efficlency targets. CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE: There are currently no federal standards in place to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. 2013-2016 President Obama is directing the EPA to work closely with states, industry and other stakeholders to establish carbon pollution standards for both new and existing power plants. ACCELERATING CLEAN ENERGY LEADERSHIP PROGRESS: PROGRESS: Since 2009, the Administration has approved 25 utility-scale solar facilities on public lands, which will provide enough electricity to power 4.4 millon homes and support an estimated 17,000 Jobs. In 2012, the President set a goal to Issue permits for 10 gigawatts of renewables on public lands by the end of the year, and the Department of Interlor achleved this goal ahead of schedule. During the President's first term, the United States more than doubled generation of electricity from wind and solar energy. CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE: To ensure America's continued leadership position in clean energy, President Obama has set new goals. 2014 2020 President Obama's Fiscal Year 2014 Budget commits to increasing funding for clean energy technology across all agencies by 30 percent. This includes investment in a range of energy technologies, from advanced biofuels and emerging nuclear technologies to clean coal. President Obama has also directed the Department of Interior to permit enough renewable electricity generation to power more than 6 million homes. Federal agencies are setting a new goal of reaching 100MW of installed renewable capacity across feder ally-subsidized housing stock by 2020. 2020 2025 To ensure America's continued leadership position in clean energy, President Obama has set a goal to double wind and solar electricity generation once again by 2020. The Department of Defense – the single largest consumer of energy in the United States - is committed to deploying three gigawatts of renewable energy on military installations by 2025. BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY TRANSPORTATION SECTOR PROGRESS: In 2011, the Administration finalized fuel economy standards for Model Year 2014- 2018 for heavy-duty trucks, buses, and vans. This will reduce green-house gas emisslons by about 270 millon metric tons and save 530 milllon barrels of oll. PROGRESS: Heavy-duty vehicles (commerclal trucks, vans, and buses) are currently the second largest source of greenhouse gas pollution within the transportation sector. The Administration has already established the toughest fuel economy standards for passenger vehlcles in U.S. history. These standards require an average performance equivalent of 54.5 mles per gallon by 202s. CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE: During the President's second term, the Administration will once again partner with industry leaders and other key stakeholders. POST-2018 In partnership with industry leaders and other key stakeholders, the Administration will develop post-2018 fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles to further reduce fuel consumption through the application of advanced cost-effective technologies. The Administration will also support the Renewable Fuels Standard and invest in research and development to help bring next-generation biofuels on line. CUTTING ENERGY WASTE IN HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND FACTORIES Energy efficiency is one of the clearest and most cost-effective opportunitles to save familes money, make our businesses more competitive, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution. PROGRESS: In President Obama's first term, DOE and HUD completed efficlency upgrades In more than one millon homes, saving many familles more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills In the first year alone. PROGRESS: In 2011, President Obama anmounced the Better Bulldings Initlative to help commerclal and Industrlal bulldings become at least 20 percent more energy efficlent by 2020. So far, more than 120 organlzatlons are on track. CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE: The Administration will take a range of new steps geared towards achieving President Obama's goal of doubling energy productivity by 2030, relative to 2010 levels. AS SOON AS FALL 2013: 2030 The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will update its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program to provide up to $250 million for rural utilities to finance efficiency investments. The Administration will build on this momentum by establishing new standards that – when combined with the progress already underway from the first term- will reduce carbon pollution by at least 3 billion metric tons by 2030, equivalent to more than a year's carbon pollution from our entire electricity system. 2020 To continue the success of the Better Buildings Challenge, the Administration will expand the Challenge to multifamily housing to cut energy waste. In addition, the Administration is launching the Better Buildings Accelerators, to support and encourage adoption of state and local policies to cut energy waste. REDUCING OTHER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS PROGRESS: PROGRESS: Emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCS) - which are potent greenhouse gases – are expected to double by 2020 and nearly triple by 2030 in the U.S. Since 1990, methane emisslons have decreased by elght percent In part through partnershlps with Industry. We have demonstrated that we have the technology to delver emisslons reductions that benefit our economy and environment. The Administration has Included an Incentive In the fuel economy and carbon pollution standards for cars and trucks to encourage automakers to reduce HFC leakage and transition away from the most potent HFCS In vehicle A.C. systems. SSS CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE: The United States must lead through international diplomacy and domestic actions to reduce emissions and transition to safer and more sustainable options. 2020 MOVING FORWARD The Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Labor, and Transportation will develop and implement a comprehensive, interagency methane strategy. The EPA will also use its authority under the Clean Air Act to encourage private sector investment in low-emissions technology by identifying and approving climate-friendly chemicals while prohibiting certain uses of more harmful HFCS. When it comes to the oil and gas sector, investments to build and upgrade gas pipelines will not only put more Americans to work, but also reduce emissions and enhance economic prod uctivity. The Obama Ad ministration will work collaboratively with state governments, as well as the private sector, to reduce emissions across multiple sectors, improve air quality, and achieve public health and economic bene fits. FEDERAL LEADERSHIP PROGRESS: PROGRESS: Since 2008, federal agencles have reduced greenhouse gas pollution by more than 15 percent- the equlvalent of permanently taking 1.5 millon cars In December 201m, President Obama signed a memorandum challenging Federal agencles to enter Into $2 billon worth of performance contracts for bullding energy efficlency within two-years; they have committed to about $2.28 billon so far. The federal government has been pursulnggreater energy efficlency that reduces greenhouse gas emisslons and saves taxpayer dollars. off the road. CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE: President Obama believes that the federal government must be a leader in clean energy and energy efficiency. 2020 The federal government will consume 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 – more than double the current goal of 7.5 percent. EVEN AS WE TAKE NEW STEPS TO REDUCE U.S. GREENHOUSE GASS EMISSIONS, WE MUST ALSO PREPARE FOR THE IMPACTS OF A CHANGING CLIMATE THAT ARE ALREADY BEING FELT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN WILL PREPARE THE U.S. FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS PROGRESS: PROGRESS: The Administration and partner developed national strategles to help decislon makers address the Impacts of climate change on freshwater resources - fish, wildlife, and plants – and oceans. In 2013, federal agencles released Climate Change Adaptation plans for the first time, outlining strategles to protect their operations, misslons, and programs from the effects of climate change. The US Global Change Research Program, NOAA, USACE, and FEMA developed and released Interactive sea-level rise maps and a calculator to ald rebullding efforts In NY and NJ after Superstorm Sandy. THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO Moving forward, the Obama Administration will help states, cities, and towns build stronger communities and infrastructure, protect critical sectors of our economy as well as our natural resources, and use sound science to better understand and manage climate impacts. SUPPORT CLIMATE-RESILIENT INVESTMENTS at the community level by removing policy barriers, modernizing programs, and establishing a short-term task force of state, local, and tribal officials to advise on key actions the federal government can take to support local and state efforts to prepare for climate change. REBUILD AND LEARN FROM SUPERSTORM SANDY by piloting innovative strategies in the Superstorm Sandy-affected region to strengthen communities against future extreme weather and other climate impacts and building on a new, consistent flood risk reduction standard established for the Sandy-affected region, agencies will update their flood-risk reduction standards for all federally-funded projects. LAUNCH AN EFFORT TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT HOSPITALS in the face of climate change through a public-private partnership with the healthcare industry. MAINTAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY by delivering tailored, science-based knowledge to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to help them understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change. PROVIDE TOOLS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE including existing and newly developed climate preparedness tools and information that state, local, and private-sector leaders need to make smart decisions. BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE SPANS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS, THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN WILL ALSO LEAD INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE America will continue to take on a leadership role in engaging the world's major economies to advance key climate priorities and in galvanizing global action through international climate negotiations. The plan will: WORK WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE ACTION To ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE ENHANCE MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT WITH MAJOR ECONOMIES EXPAND BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH MAJOR EMERGING ECONOMIES COMBAT SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM DEFORESTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION EXPAND CLEAN ENERGY USE AND CUT NEGOTIATE GLOBAL FREE TRADE IN ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND SERVICES ENERGY WASTE PHASE OUT SUBSIDIES THAT ENCOURAGE WASTEFUL CONSUMPTION OF FOSSIL FUELS LEAD GLOBAL PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCING TOWARD CLEANER ENERGY STRENGTHEN GLOBAL RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE MOBILIZE CLIMATE FINANCE LEAD EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESS: In 2009, the U.S. and China launched the $150 MIllion Clean Energy Research Center for Joint research and development of clean energy technology funded equally by the U.S. and China. PROGRESS: Negotlations at the Copenhagen Accord helped to move the world toward a more sustalnable emisslons trajectory through 2020 by limiting greenhouse pollution. The United States has made historic 5s In the International climate progress negotlations during the past four years. MOVING FORWARD The U.S. has committed to expand major new and existing International Initlatives, Including bilateral Initlatives with China, India, and other major emitting countries. We will lead global public sector financing toward cleaner energy by ending U.S. government financlal support for new coal-fired powers plants overseas, with limited exceptions June 25, 2013 WHITEHOUSE.GOV/CLIMATE-CHANGE #ActonClimate

President Obama's Plan to Fight Climate Change

shared by W.E.R.I on Jun 30
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President Obama believes we have a moral obligation to lead the fight against carbon pollution. Share the details of his plan to help make sure people in your community. Source : The White House - htt...

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