Throughout his campaign, President-elect Obama underlined the importance of dealing swiftly and decisively on the climate
He has also committed to re-engage with the international community, which has been working tirelessly on global climate regulations despite the Bush administration’s refusal to cooperate for the past eight years. Obama has said he will re-engage with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has agreed to be represented at the climate negotiations in Poland. And Americans are on board. A recent poll shows that nearly three-quarters of people believe that the U.S. must lead other countries in solving global warming.
But the rippling effects of the election, which saw climate-friendly Democrats defeating some of the staunchest climate deniers ) show that the tide is truly turning.
Sensing these imminent changes, the Bush administration has been frantically trying to push through “midnight regulations” to roll back environmental protections. Knowing that Obama’s victory means the country will move toward more climate-friendly policies, he’s trying to slide through pro-business, anti-environmental policies as a last-chance giveaway to his corporate cronies.
President Bush’s successor will not share his unwavering commitment to de-regulation and giveaways to big business at the expense of the environment. Consequently, Bush now must try to finish the job himself, in the process cementing his legacy as the most anti-environment president in our nation’s history.
As these power struggles continue to brew after this game-changing election, it’s crucial that we throw our strong, strong support behind the new administration. That’s why we’re rallying on the Senate lawn next week. Just as activists have gathered in Washington to demand action from our politicians, we will stand strong with our allies and celebrate a leader who support us.
But it’s far from over. There’s a big mess to clean up, and it’s going to take hard work.
Our eight-year interlude from reality draws to a close, and the job of cleaning up begins. The trouble is, we’re not just cleaning up after a failed US presidency. We’re cleaning up after a two-century binge.
