Will Obama tackle climate change in his second term ?

The international fight against climate change received a boost from President Obama’s re-election but there are also concerns of a ‘dash for shale gas’ in his second term.


To the relief of the environmental lobby groups, President Obama finally made a direct reference to global warming in his victory speech. Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent5:49PM GMT 07 Nov 2012

The topic of climate change was largely absent from both campaigns until Superstorm Sandy hit. While the storm may not have been caused by a changing climate, it highlighted the challenges to come if global warming is to take hold.

To the relief of the environmental lobby groups, President Obama finally made a direct reference to global warming in his victory speech.

“Despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future,” he said.
“We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened up by inequality, that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.”

Environmentalists hope that, with Mr Obama taking up a second term, he will be able to stick his neck out and support a cause that is unpopular in many sections of American society.

US election: Washington and Colorado citizens to be allowed to smoke cannabis freely - Telegraph

Stricter regulations on pollution and even a carbon tax are some of the ways Mr Obama has been urged to cut emissions – although both will face strong opposition in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.

His election is also a boost for the United Nations climate change negotiations, that rely on the US to take action before persuading China and developing countries to cut carbon emissions.

With Mr Obama in the White House, it is now more likely a new deal on climate change could be hammered out before the deadline of 2015.

The UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) hope to persuade the world to sign up to a target to cut global emissions by 50 per cent by 2050.

Kumi Naidoo, international executive director of Greenpeace, urged the president to live up to the hopes of all those around the world concerned by climate change.

“Sandy was a climate change warning. Obama must now take the stage and fulfil the promise of hope the world needs,” he said.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the UN, said he looked forward to “tackling the challenges posed by climate change” with the new president.

Expectations are now high for the next meeting of the convention in Doha next month, although Mr Obama’s experience of the disastrous climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009 may yet still put him off getting involved.

The president also made a subtle reference to shale gas in his speech, that is much less popular with environmentalists.

He referred to “freeing ourselves from foreign oil”, as part of a wider strategy to pull out of war in the Middle East.

This could mean massive investment in renewable energy like solar and biomass. Mr Obama has already hinted at extending subsidies to wind farms.

But it also means further investment in nuclear and shale gas.

Mr Obama has said that the US needs every energy source they can find, and this includes oil, gas and even 'clean’ coal.

During his first term, there has been a boom in shale gas and he has left the door open for a controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline to bring shale oil from tar sands in Canada.

Indeed, if there had not been a shale gas boom and energy prices had continued to rise, he may not be in the position he is in today.

Jack Gerard, President of the American Petroleum Institute (API), said he looked forward to working with the president to help him fulfil his campaign promise “to increase domestic oil and natural gas production that will create American jobs and strengthen our economy.”

However environmental groups are hoping Mr Obama has the confidence to crack down on oil and gas in his second term and start the US on the road to a green economy powered by the nation’s many other natural resources.

Will Obama tackle climate change in his second term? - Telegraph

Why tackle something they're on the sameness of maniuplating

So that doesn't happen.

haarp[pic]

How about he tackle American homelessness and hunger?

Or the energy crisis, which coincidentally would help end homelessness and hunger

Or the Banking criminals- Trillions of dollars for billions of lives destroyed- entire continents have fallen victim to this system

Or the Military Industrial Complex- Billions of dollars for millions of lives lost






Nah, lets keep beating this dead horse and keep getting paid [pic]