Before embarking Monday, June 2 in Warsaw , the first stage of a tour that will take him to Brussels and Normandy , Barack Obama decided on a measure that should please Europeans : a ceiling on carbon emissions at the national level . For the first time , the coal , a major source of air pollution, will be forced to reduce their CO2 emissions. According to the New York Times, it is "one of the strongest action ever taken by a U.S. government to combat climate change."
The decision follows the plan of action on climate change announced by Obama, June 25, 2013 . Noting the paralysis of Congress, the U.S. President had decided to bypass the obstacle through regulatory rather than legislative . He gave one to the Agency for Environmental Protection (EPA ) to establish standards for pollution.
" EXAMPLE SHOW "
The coincidence of the ad with the trip of U.S. President in Europe that the message is clear: climate , Obama intends to " lead by example" approach to the Paris conference in 2015 , as he has indicated in his May 28 speech at the Military academy at West Point. "Next year , I intend to ensure that America is at the forefront of efforts to develop a comprehensive framework to preserve the planet," he promised.
The United States pledged to reduce by 2020 the emissions of greenhouse gas emissions by 17 % compared to 2005 levels . According to the White House, the new measures taken by Barack Obama will be part of the discussion climate and energy during the G7 meeting on 5 June in Brussels.
Details of the plan were to be announced Monday by the Director of the EPA , Gina McCarthy. In September 2013 , the agency had initially decided measures for future plants. This time it is to tackle those operating , some in states where Republicans - but Democrats - are front against the " dictates " of Washington.
The 1600 power plants in the country , including 600 coal emit 38% of the CO2 pollution and 31% of greenhouse gas emissions. According items that have leaked to the press , they would be forced to reduce their emissions by 30% compared to 2005 , in the space of fifteen years.
" THIS IS NOT MALIN "
The EPA has flexibility . Emission limitation does not come into effect until one year. The agency does not provide national system of emissions market , the famous cap and trade ( "limit and exchange " ), the bureaucratic aspect had not been for nothing in the defeat of the Environment Act in 2009 the Senate. Instead , states are free to choose for themselves the best formula . A dozen of them have already established systems of emission markets, and over a thousand mayors have enacted limitations pollution.
Obama was to announce himself the details of the measures. Finally, he decided to leave the most controversial ( regulations) to the EPA to focus on a more popular aspect component : health.
Saturday is National Children's Hospital in Washington , where he had been young asthmatics, he recorded his weekly radio address . " There are no national limits on emissions that existing plants can be injected into the air we breathe. No , he has argued . We restrict toxic chemicals such as mercury, sulfur and arsenic, the central flow into our air and water. But they can reject unlimited amounts of carbon into the air. It's not clever and it is not healthy . "
In his response on behalf of Republican Mike Enzi , Senator from Wyoming , the State alone accounts for 40 % of domestic coal production , accused the administration of having decided "to kill coal and 800,000 jobs. " "We will all pay much more for electricity, if we can get us ," added the senator.
Before Monday's announcement , a fierce controversy ensued between the environmentalists and opponents of the EPA. Environmentalists have planned to accompany the implementation of new standards of intensive advertising campaign .
"OUR AIR CLEANER BECAME "
In contrast, the Chamber of Commerce released a report quantifying the cost of new regulations by 2030 . 50 billion (36.7 billion euros ) per year According to her, these measures would lose the economy 224,000 jobs per year. Even more catastrophic , the National Mining Association assured that the cost of electricity would increase by 80%.
Obama swept these arguments: " We were told that the fight against smog choking our cities and acid rain poisoning our lakes kill the economy. This was not the case . Our air has become cleaner , reduced dramatically acid rain, and continued growth (...) . In America, there is no need to choose between the health of children and that of the economy. "
Republicans also denounced what they consider to be an abuse of presidential power. They plan to ask the court to deny the EPA the authority to regulate emissions . However, since 2009, the Supreme Court has already ruled several times in favor of the agency and validated its authority on behalf of the Clean Air Act of 1970. War is expected to continue until mid-term elections on November 4. With several " coal " balanced States , the subject will be one of the main themes of the campaign.
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