Act on climate change Obama!

Campaigners call on President to commit to promises

Following his election victory last month, Barack Obama has been urged by climate change campaigners to turn his environmental promises into real working policies during his second term as President.

Environmental groups, who admitted they were reluctant to push the President on the issue during his first term, are now determined to hold him to his vague post-election promises and make sure he backs new action on climate change. Ed Markey, the Massachusetts Democrat who is a strong campaigner for climate change supported these views, stating, "He passed historic healthcare legislation, now he needs to work on climate change”. He added that Sandy had changed the political dynamics of climate change. "If you are a Republican above the Mason-Dixon line is it no longer going to be possible for you to start making jokes about climate. That era is gone," he said. "Republicans now have to be more respectful of science."

Obama has talked about the impact of climate change, but will he deliver on his promises to act on it?

(Image source - The New York Times)

Markey, along with other experts at a forum event hosted by Climate Desk, offered up a list of options Obama can take to "flex his executive muscle" and push Congress and government agencies into action. Some of the recommendations on this list included:-

i) The extension of tax credits for wind farms, which are due to expire this year

ii) An adoption of a renewable electricity standard (something that 30 states have already) on a national scale, meaning every state would be required to get a share of its electricity from sources such as solar and wind

iii) A commitment from the President to use the full power of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate carbon emissions from large industrial sources

So what do you think? Should Obama commit to affirmative action on climate change? Let us know in the comments below.