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Obama orders federal govt to cut emissions

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-07 14:30

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama ordered federal agencies on Monday to monitor and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in a move designed to make the US government "lead by example" in fighting climate change.

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Obama, who supports setting a nationwide target to reduce emissions blamed for global warming, said in an executive order that agencies across the federal government must set a goal within 90 days for cutting their emissions by 2020.

Other environmental measures such as reducing petroleum use in vehicle fleets by 30 percent by 2020, improving efficiency of water usage by 2020, and increasing rates of recycling by 2015 were also included in the order.

"The federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally-responsible products and technologies," Obama said in a statement.

The order mandates agencies to "measure, manage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward agency-defined targets."

Obama's international credentials on fighting climate change have been called into question as chances dim that the Senate will pass a bill mandating emissions cuts across the economy by December, when UN talks on a global warming treaty take place in Copenhagen.

The White House order may be intended to counter concerns about the president's climate change commitment.

The federal government is the largest consumer of energy in the US economy, the statement noted, occupying nearly 500,000 buildings, operating more than 600,000 vehicles, employing 1.8 million civilians and buying more than $500 billion of goods and services annually.

The order also calls on the government to "leverage federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies."

The White House said the order would save taxpayers money by cutting down on energy waste.

Obama has made tackling climate change one of his top domestic and international priorities, but healthcare reform has dominated the congressional agenda and the president has focused his advocacy muscle primarily on that issue.

Reuters