What Obama Means by "Clean," part 3

Environmental details of Obama's budget proposal:

1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - $10 billion overall
   
   • $1.1 billion for clean air and gloabl climate change programs
   • • $21 million to catalog Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emitters
     • $5 million for EPA to write permitting guidance for GHG reduction technologies
     • $6 million for mobile-source climate regulations
     • $7 million to investigate performance standards regulations
     • $6 million for Carbon Capture & Sequestration (CCS) related work
     • $25 million for state air pollution agencies process GHG permits from large-industrial emitters
2. Interior Department - $171 million overall for adaptation initiative (25% increase from 2010 levels)
   
   • $14 billion for 8 climate-science centers
   • US Geological Survey (USGS) - $78 million
   • • $2 million for carbon sequestration projects
     • $8 million for climate change and wildlife center
       
   • Fish and Wildlife Services - $9 million for landscape conservation cooperative
3. Department of Commerce
   
   • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) - Creating a climate change office to help inform local communities and businesses about climate change (see www.climate.gov)

However, Obama's goals on climate change have some signficant hurdles, besides congressional approval of the budget. 

Domestically, the US Chamber of Commerce is contesting the legal authority of the EPA to regulate GHG emissions under the Clean Act, despite a 2007 Supreme Court ruling stating that the government does indeed have the power to regulate GHG emissions, if they pose a threat to human welfare (Bloomberg article).

Internationally, key parties at the table with the US in negotiating the last-minute Copenhagen Accord - Brazil, China, India and South Africa - are pushing for a "two-track process" on reaching a binding climate treaty, which might incorporate some, all or none of the Copenhagen Accord and the Negotiator Level Text (BASIC Group Statement).   For a very informative guide on National Positions on the Copenhagen Accord, see:  The US Climate Action Network:  Who's on Board with What?

Comments

[online doctor]

i hope that obama's goal will do it successfully.