The Daily Climate: Obama Moves Towards a 'Green New Deal'

by Emily Gertz · 2008-11-24 08:38:00 UTC
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LeafPresident-elect Obama is so far standing strong on his campaign pledge to take decisive action on global warming -- and doing it in two smart ways.

First is the message: Mr. Obama is emphasizing the interconnections and the upbeat possibilities. He's clear on the fact that the jobs created by jumpstarting our transition to a low-carbon economy will help revivify the economy. So his economic stimulus plan incorporates funding for energy efficiency, clean power, and restoring disintegrating infrastructure (roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, etc.).

Second is the medium: By posting it to YouTube, Mr. Obama takes this message directly to the American people, especially those who were already engaged with his election campaign via the internet. This effectively leaves the pundits, business leaders and politicians (here and abroad) who've been arguing for business as usual to react with dispiriting cautions, rather than set the tone of the debate. In normal free market fashion, their argument that it's too risky to the fragile economy to tackle global warming conveniently externalizes the very real economic costs of depleting the environment, degrading public health, and de-stabilizing the climate.

Here's President-elect Obama's latest weekly message:

Economy Of The People, By The People

Related:

Obama Introduces Plan To Create 2.5 Million Jobs By 2011 (National Journal)

Obama Urged to Create 'Green New Deal' (Boston Globe)

Obama's green start: US president-elect prepares two bills to cut pollution and kick-start a clean energy revolution (The Independent)

Obama Eyes $500 Billion in Stimulus (The Wall Street Journal)

Obama Testing Ways to Use Internet to Govern (San Francisco Chronicle)

Image: "A leaf with laminar structure and pinnate venation."  Via Wikimedia Commons.

Emily Gertz
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