This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Turn to the nation's most objective and informative daily environmental news resource to learn how the United States and key players around the world are responding to the environmental...
By Dean Scott
Oct. 4 — A carbon tax on fossil fuels might be the single best approach to curbing global climate change—just don’t expect the U.S. or a broad swath of nations to impose one anytime soon, President Barack Obama said.
“Now, I’ll be honest with you. In the current environment in Congress, and certainly internationally, the likelihood of an immediate carbon tax is a ways away,” Obama said at a White House climate forum Oct. 3.
However, Obama did highlight what he said will likely be “tidbits of good news” in the weeks ahead from separate international negotiations to curb aviation sector carbon dioxide emissions as well as hydrofluorocarbons—extremely potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigeration.
Talks toward finalizing a cap on aviation emissions began this week under the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal; talks toward a global phasedown of HFCs are to be held Oct. 8-14 in Kigali, Rwanda under the auspices of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Though the outlook for a carbon tax in the U.S. is dim, that same day Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that country would set a national price on carbon dioxide emissions by 2018.
Obama also took aim at what he said is a continuing obstacle to building on his climate agenda: “obstructionist” members of Congress whom he sees as stubbornly resisting the degree to which human activities are changing the climate. Progress requires “a sense of urgency” and not “something that we can just kind of mosey along about” in the face of “climate denial or obstructionist politics,” the president said at the climate panel discussion, which concluded a daylong South by South Lawn festival hosted at the White House.
The president also touted international progress on climate change under the 2015 Paris Agreement, which he noted is now on track to enter into force “in the next few weeks”—less than a year after nearly 200 nations reached the deal at a UN summit in December.
The South by South Lawn event was the first to be held at the White House, focusing on technology and civic engagement and inspired by the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Obama shared the stage with Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University, on a panel moderated by actor and climate activist Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Paris climate pact is expected to enter into force in the weeks ahead because of moves by India, which ratified the deal Oct. 2, and the European Union, which last week moved to fast-track its ratification to ensure the deal becomes international law before the next UN climate summit opens in Morocco Nov. 7.
But Obama conceded at the Oct. 3 forum that more action is needed.
“We get an incomplete,” the president said after he was asked by DiCaprio to grade the global response thus far to the challenge of addressing climate change. “But the good news is we can still pass the course if we make some good decisions now,” Obama said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Dean Scott in Washington at DScott@bna.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Larry Pearl at lpearl@bna.com
Copyright © 2016 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
All Bloomberg BNA treatises are available on standing order, which ensures you will always receive the most current edition of the book or supplement of the title you have ordered from Bloomberg BNA’s book division. As soon as a new supplement or edition is published (usually annually) for a title you’ve previously purchased and requested to be placed on standing order, we’ll ship it to you to review for 30 days without any obligation. During this period, you can either (a) honor the invoice and receive a 5% discount (in addition to any other discounts you may qualify for) off the then-current price of the update, plus shipping and handling or (b) return the book(s), in which case, your invoice will be cancelled upon receipt of the book(s). Call us for a prepaid UPS label for your return. It’s as simple and easy as that. Most importantly, standing orders mean you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you’re relying on. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.960.1220 or by sending an email to books@bna.com.
Put me on standing order at a 5% discount off list price of all future updates, in addition to any other discounts I may quality for. (Returnable within 30 days.)
Notify me when updates are available (No standing order will be created).
This Bloomberg BNA report is available on standing order, which ensures you will all receive the latest edition. This report is updated annually and we will send you the latest edition once it has been published. By signing up for standing order you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you need. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.372.1033, option 5, or by sending us an email to research@bna.com.
Put me on standing order
Notify me when new releases are available (no standing order will be created)