Obama - Climate Change

Tmcclanahan
Per3

“Well, I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That's why I've fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels. That's why I reached across the aisle to come up with a plan to raise our fuel standards… And I didn't just give a speech about it in front of some environmental audience in California. I went to Detroit, I stood in front of a group of automakers, and I told them that when I am president, there will be no more excuses — we will help them retool their factories, but they will have to make cars that use less oil.”
— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, October 14, 2007



Climate change is a global issue that has brought about an increasingly argumentative debate over the years. Barack Obama has many ideas on climate change that he says will have a very positive effect on the country and the world. Those who support him believe that he is planning a great environmental future for the country. Others even believe that his ideas to solve the climate change problem are not extreme enough or are not an accurate solution. Obama has made several speeches that explain his ideas about climate change which include: reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050, investing in a clean energy future, supporting next generation biofuels, setting America on a path to oil independence, improving the energy efficiency 50 percent by 2030, and restoring U.S. leadership on climate change.

“The power to fight back against climate change lies in the hands of all Americans,” said Senator Obama.

Obama’s views on the reduction of carbon emissions are based on a cap and trade system. This would require the cooperation of coal and mining companies pay for every ton of emission that they release in order to help the support the development energy efficient products. He also states that he will invest 150 billion dollars in the next ten years in order to advance to the next generation of biofuels and to invest in the low-emissions coal plants. Also, he says that he fund the Clean Technologies Development Venture Capital Fund with 10 billion dollars a year for five years in order to help move new technologies from labs out into everyday society. His plans for next generation biofuels include having government contracts with companies who are experimenting with ways to use biofuels such as Cellulosic Ethanol. This goes along with his ideas of incorporating renewable fuel standards. “Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030” (Source C).

Obama has been joined by Senators Olympia Snowe and Jeff Bingaham in attempts to introduce a “legislation that would create a national education program to build awareness about the causes and effects of global climate change.” This Climate Change Education Act will help to educate Americans on the effects to the environment caused by things like carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. “As we develop national solutions to reduce carbon emissions from our factories and motor vehicles, every student should know that lifestyle choices like changing a light-bulb or driving a fuel-flexible car can help our progress.” Obama says that by informing people of the damages that are done they will begin to do what they can to help. The act is also said to “launch a national information campaign to promote new ways to address climate change” (Source D).

"We know our oil dependency is jeopardizing our planet as well. That the fossil fuels we burn are setting off a chain of dangerous weather patterns that could condemn future generations to global catastrophe" (Source B). The ability to have oil independence would greatly help the environment. If the goal of oil independence is reached it would mean that oil consumption would have been reduced drastically. Obama also plans on aiding manufacturers so they are able new fuel efficient machines, such as cars. He stated that by doing simple things, like changing to florescent lights, in mass that there will be a clear physical change of the climate in the next twenty to thirty years.



Source A: "Barack Obama is Not Serious About Global Warming." GRISTMILL. 2008. Grist Magazine, Inc.. 8 Feb 2008 .

Source B: "Barack Obama on Environment and Energy." Explore Candidates and Issues. 2007. Glassbooth. 8 Feb 2008 .

Source C: "Energy and Environment." Obama 08. Obama For America. 8 Feb 2008 .

Source D: "Obama Bill Provides Every American with Tools to Fight Climate Change." Barack Obama. 08 jan 2008. 8 Feb 2008 .