Barack Obama said often during the campaign that his top policy priority -- before health care, before taxes, before education -- was energy. Stabilizing the economy might dominate the early months of the administration, climate change would absorb the first serious application of his political capital. But that was during the campaign. Politicians have a way of forgetting those promises when they transition to office. If this video address Obama sent to Bipartisan Governors Global Climate Summit is any indication, however, Obama hasn't forgotten. Not even a little.
In politics, there's a difference between affirmational statements -- "this issue is important to the nation, and to my administration" -- and commitments. Obama is offering commitments. He leads with cap-and-trade keyed to specific targets: Reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and then by an additional 80% by 2050. That's important, as the politics of gas prices as demonstrated in the campaign could have warned him off. Then comes $15 billion annually invested into technology and infrastructure. He promises to lead towards an international framework and partner with states and private corporations who want to invest in clean energy. As a generalized point, health reform is obviously my passion, but Obama's got his priorities straight here. The problems of the health care system are fairly fixed. The cost of inaction is that more people suffer for longer. But it doesn't make reform any more difficult. Global warming is just the opposite. The problems are cumulative, and there's a point of no return. Enough ice can melt, enough carbon can be trapped, enough feedback loops can be engaged, and suddeny, you can't turn back the clock. You just have to endure the devastation. It's the difference between a broken house and a burning one. If it takes you a long time to call the repairman, you can't use the dishwasher for awhile. If it takes you a long time to call the fireman, you lose your home.
