Obama Is Just the Beginning

The end of an era has finally arrived. The man responsible for some of the most destructive environmental policies of the past 50 years is finally packing his bags, and a new president is arriving in Washington who wants to strengthen -- rather than dismantle -- the safeguards that protect our air, water, and wilderness.

My excitement over this sea change is tempered by America's dire financial straits. Undoubtedly President-elect Obama's top priority should be jump-starting our economy. But environmental concerns need not be sidelined. Indeed, addressing our energy and climate future offers huge economic opportunities. According to a recent report released by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, investing in clean energy solutions such as wind and solar power, rapid transit, and energy efficiency could create two million U.S. jobs in the next two years.

How do we unleash these opportunities right now, when we need them most?  By passing a national global warming law. A cap-and-trade program is not just an effort to curb carbon emissions; it's an investment plan. America can auction a portion of the carbon pollution allowances and direct those revenues into expanding green energy industries, such as manufacturing wind turbines and building more efficient cars. An even larger portion of the auction revenues could be issued as dividends to Americans to help alleviate higher energy costs and encourage people to invest in the efficient windows and appliances that will drive down their utility bills.

NRDC is working to ensure that climate legislation remains a top-tier issue in Washington until a bill is actually passed. The White House will likely release its own version of a cap-and-trade bill, but any delay in the draft's arrival will only make it harder and more costly to stop global warming. The bill has to come within the first 100 days of the new administration, so we will keep the pressure on. At the same time, we will push Congress to move quickly on its own climate legislation. NRDC is mobilizing green-collar workers, clean-tech venture capitalists, and renewable energy manufacturers to remind our representatives in Washington that investments in clean energy will reap financial and public-health benefits for all Americans.

These next months offer real opportunity amid all the urgency. To play a forceful role in the new administration, we have to act fast, and we have to mobilize our members and activists. You can start today by telling your elected officials that the work of putting America on a clean energy path must start on Day One.

Frances Beinecke
President