As the 38 North Solutions team rubbed shoulders with environmentalists and business leaders alike at the Green Ball, Vice President Biden strode onto the stage and talked about the importance of dealing with climate change. It was good to hear but perhaps not surprising given the venue. Then came the President’s inaugural address. Whether or not Hurricane Sandy was the straw that broke the back of the camel that had been carrying epic droughts, derechos, tornadoes, and extreme temperatures, Obama has reengaged on climate with a distinct mention in the Inaugural speech that echoed stump speeches from the 2008 race. While the President’s policies on fuel efficiency, greenhouse gas regulation, wind tax credits, and federal building energy efficiency have served as climate policy in driving down emissions, much of the rationale for those policies was based on economic arguments–and perhaps rightly so since the economy was the biggest issue at hand. With the economy in many ways on track, he can now add climate change to the reasons why we need to revamp energy policies right now. The 38 North team will be engaging with both Congress and the Administration to see how clean energy and innovation policy can provide solutions to meet the President’s reinvigorated climate change goals.
