“We cannot afford more of the same timid politics when the future of our planet is at stake. Global warming is not a someday problem, it is now. We are already breaking records with the intensity of our storms, the number of forest fires, the periods of droughts. By 2050, famine could force 250 million families from their homes. The polar ice caps are now melting faster than science had ever predicted. This is not the future I want for my daughters. It’s not the future any of us want for our children. And if we act now and we act boldly, it doesn’t have to be,” President Barack Obama said in 2007.
Obama has his work cut out for him for the next several years when it comes to the environment.
By 2050, Obama has a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent. In just the next five years, Obama plans to make 40 percent of federal buildings more efficient and by 2025 make all federal buildings zero-emission.
Another goal of Obama is by 2025 to have 25 percent of electricity come from renewable sources. He also wants to spend $150 billion within the next 10 years in advanced technologies to help the environment.
As an initial goal, Obama wants to combat global warming because people do not understand the severity of the issue, and the fact that it is occurring right now. Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden have a goal of reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 by using a cap and trade program that is also cost effective.
The cap and trade program limits the amount of pollutants companies use, and gives financial incentives to companies to comply with this program. This will allow companies to meet environmental regulations with less financial burden.
People all around the country are suffering with the rise in gas prices. Obama plans to encourage automobile manufacturers to create fuel-efficient cars in the U.S. instead of losing the market to companies that are overseas.
The new advanced vehicles will be lightweight and carry a new type of electric engine. Obama wants to expand consumer tax incentives by lifting the cap on buyer tax credits making it easier for more Americans to purchase these extremely fuel-efficient vehicles.
In my opinion, the best plan Obama has is creating the Green Job Corp. Obama hopes to create millions of jobs that focus on helping the environment. This is a great plan for two reasons: it is beneficial for the environment and it helps improve the economy.
These goals may seem unrealistic, but with Obama’s detailed strategies and determination, I believe he can accomplish these goals and make our country a healthier place to live.
