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As the Whitehouse awaits a new president the environment movement breathes a collective sigh of relief. A democratic government with a "liberal" leader must be able to turn the tide on eight years of environmental myopia. Mustn't it?
But before we breathe in some of that fresh air, it's worth asking a few questions of Barack Obama. The paradox of the American presidency is that someone can be elected without ever having to really reveal what their policies are. Doubters point to his love of coal and enthusiasm for ethanol, but he's gaining respect with his forward thinking climate and energy plan.
The main points of his new plan incude a call to cut carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, to be accomplished through a cap-and-trade system that would auction off 100 percent of emissions permits, making polluters pay for the carbon dioxide they emit. |
