Obama’s Second Term Climate Priorities

The author proposes a two-track approach for President Obama's second term: immediate regulatory action via the EPA to reduce carbon dioxide from power plants and methane from the oil and gas industry, and a long-term strategy to revamp energy technology innovation. To achieve a target of 80 percent carbon dioxide reduction by 2050, the document suggests developing a portfolio of zero-carbon technologies, including carbon capture and storage, advanced nuclear energy, and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, supported by more effective innovation policies and increased R&D funding.

• The author recommends two immediate regulatory steps for the EPA that do not require Congressional action: finalizing Clean Air Act performance standards for carbon dioxide emissions from new fossil power plants (and subsequently existing ones), and regulating methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.
• Regulating methane is presented as a high-impact, cost-effective short-term strategy because methane is over 70 times more warming than carbon dioxide but degrades in the atmosphere within a few decades.
• To meet the 2050 goal of an 80 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, the U.S. must move beyond natural gas and revamp innovation policies to support a broad portfolio of zero-carbon technologies.
• Proposed long-term technology priorities include carbon capture and storage for coal and gas plants, advanced nuclear energy, grid-scale energy storage, electric systems for light vehicles and freight rail, and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels based on recycled carbon dioxide.

APA

Cohen, A. (2013). Obama’s Second Term Climate Priorities. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2013/01/obamas-second-term-climate-priorities/

Chicago

Cohen, Armond. Obama’s Second Term Climate Priorities. Clean Air Task Force, 2013. https://www.catf.us/2013/01/obamas-second-term-climate-priorities/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Cohen |first1=Armond |title=Obama’s Second Term Climate Priorities |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=10 January 2013 |url=https://www.catf.us/2013/01/obamas-second-term-climate-priorities/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cohen2013obamas, author = {Cohen, Armond}, title = {{Obama’s Second Term Climate Priorities}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2013}, month = jan, url = {https://www.catf.us/2013/01/obamas-second-term-climate-priorities/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }