#1 – Obama for President! Being part of this historical moment was overwhelming enough to make us forget that the road ahead was not going to be as smooth as this charismatic and brilliant elocutionist made us dream. After 8 years of Bush’s era characterized by ignoring the threats caused by the warming of our planet, the over-exploitation of our natural resources, the toxic nature of many industries and the blatantly disregard for human health and the environment Obama’s arrival to the White House was lived like deliverance for most of green and climate activists and professionals. Although energy was at the center of its platform, we knew, based on conversation with its transition team that the environment will also be addressed.

Through 2009, we realized that no matter how well intentioned the new administration was about curbing GHG, promoting clean energy and reducing the toxic burden on people and the environment, some decisions would not be easy to swallow, especially in regard to the two opposite means to cut our dependence on foreign oil: intensify coal mining (under its appalling name “clean coal”) and offshore drilling and developing clean energy, which we all know will take time without strong directives.

The green stimulus package under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included more than $80 billion provisioned for what has been called the Green Stimulus, which included tax credits (renewable energy, clean car, home retrofit, …), employment incentives, high speed rail system, smart grid technology, renewable energy R&D, water projects, cleanup programs, public transit investment, wind power tax credits for businesses, and green jobs training. We also learned from EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, a reform of TSCA was in the plans for 2010 (see more here)

This is was great news, only hampered by the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen and the probable issuing of 42 new mountain top removal permits, even though the awarded beneficiaries would need to assess environmental and human health impact before proceeding. The nomination at the USDA of a Monsanto lobbyist, the big energy companies still benefiting from subsidies and the failure to address climate change here at home did not go well with most of us.

At the end of 2009, we still left guessing what this administration will do to effectively curb CO2 emissions below the 350 ppm level. The administration’s objectives and guiding principles might have an impact, but not enough and probably too late. Curbing greenhouse gases can only happen with a comprehensive climate bill, we are still waiting for it.

Here, at green age, we believe this administration should offer sustainable and socially responsible businesses a tax incentive for being so, and cut subsidies and raise taxes for the ones that have put us in this situation. And since we’re at it – other countries like France are doing it already – tax “drunk” vehicles.
It should also consider addressing climate change as an emergency and order an overhaul of polluting industries, forcing them directly or indirectly to produce energy efficient products (not just cars, everything needs to be) and develop and manufacture here, in this country, clean technologies and green solutions.

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