Climate action is a powerful engine for new industries and jobs, and the next challenge for America's Genius
2012 Action Plan
The 2012 Action Plan is now available.
Click here to view the plan.
Between 2007 and 2011, the Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) engaged hundreds of thought leaders to produce scores of recommendations on how the President of the United States could improve the nation's climate and energy security.
Now with the help of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, PCAP has been revived for the 2012 election season.
As before, we are engaging some of America's most distinguished thought leaders. As before, we will emphasize policies and programs the President can implement with his existing executive authorities and without further action by Congress. And as before, we will encourage this year's presidential candidates to address climate change and energy security head-on.
PCAP's operating assumptions also remain the same:
- Energy and climate security are not partisan issues.
- Solutions must serve the public interest rather than special interests, when the two diverge.
- To meet the challenges of the 21st Century, economic recovery is not enough. We need economic transformation to achieve a dynamic, robust, competitive, secure and sustainable economy.
- There is no "silver bullet" to arrest climate change or to protect ourselves from energy crises. We must update or replace the rules, regulations, programs and policies formed by and for the carbon era.
- Climate and energy security are extraordinarily urgent issues that require bold leadership and can no longer be ignored. When Congress fails to act, the President must, with all the tools and powers he can legally use.
Confronting big challenges is what we Americans do. Addressing climate change and energy security are the biggest opportunity for new jobs and industries, a dynamic economy, lasting peace and a better quality of life for our children. Just as important, they are an opportunity to prove again that a free society and open market are capable of dealing with the most serious of threats.
No candidate for pubic office should be allowed to ignore these issues.
Ending the Silence on Climate Change
Watch this very informative interview in which Bill Moyers converses about "ending the silence" on global climate change with Anthony Leiserowitz of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication.
Diverse Commission Unveils Plan to Double U.S. Energy Productivity
A diverse coalition of energy leaders has unveiled a set of recommendations designed to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030.
Chaired by U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and National Grid U.S. President Tom King, the Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy calls for growing the U.S. economy through investments, modernization and education. These efforts will target the entire energy structure, including buildings, transportation, manufacturing, power generation and natural gas infrastructure.
If adopted, by 2030 the U.S. could:
- Add 1.3 million jobs;
- Cut average household energy costs
- Save American businesses $169 billion a year;
- Increase GDP by up to 2%;
- Decrease energy imports by more than $100 billion a year; and
- Reduce CO2 emissions by one-third.
What's New
A National Strategy to Make Us Stronger
The Center for American Progress has proposed a strategy for President Obama to assess and improve the nation's resilience as we repair and rebuild infrastructure.
Up in Smoke
A new report tallies up the impact of the world's major industries on natural capital. Its conclusion: Pollution and the loss of ecosystem services are costing the global economy about $4.7 trillion per year.
What do President Obama's science advisers say he should do about mitigating or adapting to global climate change?
The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology have sent President Obama six recommendations.
National Survey of Republicans and Republican-Leaning Independents on Energy and Climate Change
A National Survey of Republicans and Republican-Leaning Independents on Energy and Climate Change reports that a majority of respondents (52%) believe climate change is happening, while 26% believe it is not, and 22% say they “don’t know.” A large majority (77%) says the United States should use more renewable energy sources (solar, wind & geothermal) in the future. Among those who support expanded use of renewable energy, nearly 7 out of 10 think the U.S. should increase the use of renewable energy "immediately."
Recent Analyses of Clean Energy Potential
We've created a list of recent Analyses of Clean Energy Potential.
Google Earth
Google has launched a new feature that allows people to see the impact of climate change locally.Go »
About PCAP
The Presidential Climate Action Project was created in January 2007 to develop policy recommendations on climate and energy security, with a focus on what the next President of the United States could accomplish using his or her executive authority - in other words, without action by Congress. Over the next four years, PCAP produced four reports with nearly 200 ideas on policies and programs to deal with energy and climate issues.
The first report was issued on Dec. 15, 2007, just before the presidential primary elections began for the 2008 election cycle. It was provided to all of the presidential candidates.
The President's Authorities to Deal With Climate Change
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PCAP commissioned two important studies on the President's power to reshape national programs on climate change and energy security without further action by Congress. In the reports, the Center for Energy and Environmental Security at the University of Colorado Law School studied executive orders and federal laws going back to the 1930s and concluded that current law gives the Executive Branch substantial powers in these two vital areas of national policy.
Check Huffington Post and Climate Progress for blog posts with more information on PCAP's 2012 recommendations.
Past Reports
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