Obama announces historic climate plan for energy sector.

Wed 25 June 2014 View all news

For the first time in the United States' history, federal rules to reduce carbon emissions in the power sector by 30 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030 have been announced by President Obama. The Climate Action Plan proposes sweeping steps to limit heat-trapping pollution from coal-fired power plants and to boost renewable energy production on federal property.

Obama has also called to end US support for public financing for new coal-fired plants overseas, but  plans to exempt plants in the poorest nations as long as the cleanest technology available in those countries is being used. The President has also pledged to work with major polluting countries like China and India to curb emissions, building on an agreement recently struck with China's leader to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, the potent greenhouse gases used in air conditions and refrigerators.

Three key pillars underpin the action plan:

  • Cuting carbon emissions in the United States.
  • Preparing for the impacts of climate change.
  • Leading international efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change

The move forms part of the Obama Administration’s Climate Action Plan, which includes:

  • strengthening energy efficiency standards for equipment and buildings
  • emission limits on new coal and gas plant, which will require any new coal generators to include carbon capture and storage
  • stronger regulation to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production
  • emissions standards for heavy trucks—responsible for 20 per cent of American transport emissions—for implementation by 2018
  • reducing the use of super-potent hydrofluorocarbons through regulation and developing climate-friendly substitutes in airconditioning, refrigeration and other uses
  • requiring all federal agencies to source 20 per cent of their electricity from renewables by 2020

Much of the implementation of the President’s Climate Action Plan will be accomplished through federal agencies operating under existing legislative authority. No new congressional action is anticipated.

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