Can the President do what Congress can’t?

Can he give us strong action on climate change?
The U.S. Congress is faltering in its attempt to give us clean energy and climate legislation this session.  Cap-and-trade legislation that should already have been introduced by the Senate has been put off until next month, as backers of climate action try to persuade their colleagues not to water its provisions down to meaninglessness.  And it’s becoming more and more unlikely, especially as the ongoing health care debate uses up all the oxygen on Capitol Hill, that a climate bill will become law before the crucial U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen in mid-December.

What are they doing on the Hill?We hear talk of the ‘easy’ parts of the legislation, such as renewable energy and green building standards, being separated out from the ‘difficult’ parts, meaning anything remotely concerned with climate, and passed in a bill of their own.  And as solar power advocates, we are at least happy that there’s talk that might lead to more of it.  But with all we know about the dangers of climate change, it’s distressing that our (presumably) well-informed Congresspersons seem to have such an underdeveloped sense of urgency about the issue.

Nor can we lay all the blame for this dilatory behavior at the feet of the loyal opposition.  Some fifteen Senate Democrats are among those adding their weight to the brake pedal.  As Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) reportedly said, “arbitrary deadlines are not helpful.”  In other words, a large part of Congress does not believe we need to pass robust climate legislation before world leaders gather to decide on next steps in combating climate change, at a meeting in which the U.S. will be looked upon to give strong leadership.

Time for Action

It’s time, now, for the President to do what Congress can’t–or won’t–do.  But how?

One way would be through the EPA, which can use provisions of the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon emissions.  The agency could cover auto and large industrial sources accounting for some two-thirds of the country’s emissions.  Most observers agree that a law passed by Congress would be less subject to lawsuits, but also that EPA rulings could spur Congressional action and show the U.N. meeting some actual progress.

Another avenue that’s within the President’s purview would be to come to some agreement with China and/or India on emissions controls ahead of the Copenhagen meeting.  This could have the effect of silencing those in Congress who refuse to countenance any U.S. action until those other countries have taken some.

Take Action Now

Anyone who’s read Barack Obama’s autobiographical ‘The Audacity of Hope’ knows that the President has a great regard for Congress and the legislative processes it follows. And the proof of that can be found in the way he has–until recently–allowed Congress to take the lead on two of his top campaign priorities: health care reform and energy/climate. Conversely, the fact that he is now personally taking his case on these issues to the airwaves and to meetings of U.N. leaders and the Clinton Global Initiative is proof that Congress has dithered away its lead.

We’re happy to see the President weighing in on matters too vital to be allowed to die, and believe he should ratchet up the effort with EPA regulation, international agreements and whatever other actions he can take.

If you’d like to encourage him to take such actions, you can do so right now.

Click here to TAKE ACTION NOW.