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January 16, 2009
President-elect Obama’s Cabinet appointees appeared in several Senate confirmation hearings during the week of January 11, many noting the need to address climate change and energy policy quickly upon taking office. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 13, Secretary of State-designate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) said, “The world is in need of an urgent, coordinated response to climate change and as President-elect Obama has said, America must be a leader in developing and implementing it.” Regarding the upcoming UN climate negotiations scheduled to take place in Copenhagen in December, Clinton said, “We will participate in the upcoming UN Copenhagen Climate Conference and a global energy forum. And we will pursue an energy policy that reduces our carbon emissions while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and gas, fighting climate change and enhancing our economic and energy security.”
Dr. Steven Chu, the Nobel laureate scientist chosen by Obama to head the Department of Energy, spoke about the need to focus on energy efficiency before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on January 14. “The more efficient use of energy in the United States is the biggest factor that can reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” he said and later added, “This to my mind is the lowest hanging fruit.” Regarding the use of coal, Chu told the committee that “if the world continues to use coal the way it is using it today, not only in the United States but in Russia, India and China, it is a pretty bad dream.” Chu also added that he would seek and fund research on carbon capture and storage technologies.
On January 14, Lisa Jackson appeared before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee as Obama’s choice for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Jackson emphasized the role science will play in the agency. “If I am confirmed, I will administer with science as my guide,” she said. “Political appointees will not compromise the integrity of EPA's technical experts to advance particular regulatory outcomes.”
For additional information see: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gseS6fu2KGJJnEJ69QeyQ... http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE50C4KB20090113 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/us/politics/13web-chu.html?_r=1&hp http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/13/AR200901... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR200901... http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE50D6PK20090114
(This article is from EESI's weekly electronic newsletter Climate Change News . To read more from Climate Change News or sign up for a free subscription, please click here .)
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