As President Obama returns from the United Nations summit on global warming, Republicans move to repeal significant portions of his climate proposal.
Obama proposed collaborative, sweeping action on climate change as a priority for his office. As his tenure draws to a close, he hopes to build a coalition to combat climate change for the future. Despite substantial developments, all of these changes can be reversed when Obama is succeeded by a new administration.
There are discernible differences in the presidential candidates’ views and plans for energy and environmental issues. While many Republicans decry clean energy solutions and argue against Obama’s Clean Power Plan, the plan is actually a worthwhile investment for not only our individual health and well-being but for the health and well-being of our planet by slowing the progression of climate change.
For those unfamiliar with the Clean Power Plan, it encompasses issues ranging from the protection of public health to the reduction of electricity bills for families and businesses. The plan establishes the first national standards limiting carbon pollution from power plants, setting flexible goals to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent by 2030 and increasing the amount of power generated by renewable resources to 28 percent of power production.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders calls climate change the greatest threat to national security. While I do not share Sanders’ intensity, climate change should be a priority. Perhaps it should not rank above national security, but it should at least register on the radar of Republicans.
We need an environmental agenda supporting economic growth — an energy plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil. We need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions warming our planet increasingly to a point of no return.
Climate change shouldn’t be politicized — we have a moral obligation to pass on a clean and healthy planet to our children. We are already feeling the effects throughout the country, and our problem will only be exacerbated with time.
According to NPR, nearly three-quarters of Americans now favor government action on climate change. The presidential candidates differ sharply in their views regarding action on climate change, some calling for sweeping changes and others calling climate change a hoax.
While Hillary Clinton set a goal to produce one-third of U.S. electricity using renewable resources by 2027, Ted Cruz staunchly opposes any policy changes to curb the impact. Cruz represents the strongest opposition to global warming, arguing data is used to control the economy and the energy industry.
Democrats are not the only climate change supporters. Jay Faison, a Republican businessman, embraces the need to combat climate change by contributing $175 million to a campaign calling for change. Faison is a committed GOP donor, contributing to campaigns supporting Mitch McConnell and Jeb Bush, but still rationalizes that the Republican Party needs to look at the issue with fresh eyes.
A 2014 Pew poll found 71 percent of Americans say the country should do whatever it takes to protect the environment, which breaks down to 77 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of Republicans supporting stricter emission limits on power plants. The Democrats are not alone in their fight anymore. Even major oil companies like ExxonMobil and Shell are on board with the plan, despite the financial hit the companies will take by cutting carbon dioxide emissions.
Nearly 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions are produced by power plants, more than every car, truck and airplane in the US combined, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Renewable energy sources are more efficient and do not pose a severe threat to the environment.
The Clean Power Plan is a game-changing policy with the power to ensure our communities can withstand the devastating effects of global warming. The plan will save $155 billion for consumers and create tens of thousands of renewable energy jobs by 2040, not to mention the health benefits stemming from cleaner air.
One can only hope more forward-thinking Republicans will warm to the idea of climate policy and embrace what could be a remarkable opportunity. If not, we will be leaving behind a planet both polluted and damaged beyond repair — greeting our children with anything but a warm welcome.
Mariah Manuel is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Lake Charles, Louisiana. You can reach her on Twitter @mariah_manuel.