The Administration Fiddles While the Climate Burns

During the Presidential campaign season, Obama promised

swift and comprehensive action to combat global climate change

Yet to this day the administration remains aloof offering only big goals without any real action or details to the plan.

Administration officials consistently say they would much prefer that Congress write new legislation to pre-empt the E.P.A. regulatory power, but they are clearly holding it in reserve as a prod to reluctant lawmakers and recalcitrant industries and as evidence of good faith to other nations.

Still, the agency’s regulations would take months to write and years to become fully effective. Meanwhile, Congress is already starting work on energy and climate legislation, though without significant guidance from the White House, at least in public.

At the recent international climate conference in Germany Obama failed to offer real leadership on the issue. Business lobbyists of course are happy to move slowly as there will be real costs to protecting the environment. But what will be the cost to humankind if we fail to take action soon?

The administration’s caution leaves many environmental advocates frustrated, although most are reluctant to speak on the record for fear of alienating their allies inside government.

This is one more realm in which we, the American public, and the peoples of the world need rapid and decisive action. We must not continue to fiddle while the climate burns. We must insure our future to the benefit of all humankind.

Peace.