Obama’s Climate Plan Is Already Working — in China

The United States, considered a global leader on many issues, has long shied away from a climate change policy and reduction of carbon emissions. Now US President Barack Obama’s announced plans for new regulations on power plant emissions, reducing levels by 30 percent by 2030, and the new plan could inspire other countries to “take action of their own accord,” argues Ryan Cooper of The Week. China announced its own emissions cap less than 24 hours later, with enforcement set to begin in 2016. Cooper suggests the announcements could signal the beginning of “a global climate deal… [A]n extraordinarily heavy lift – but perhaps not as heavy as most people believe.” The plans from the world’s two largest polluters could reduce reliance on coal. Cooper cites recent advancements in green technologies and the amount of global attention the US Environmental Protection Agency has garnered and notes, “a future economy powered mostly without fossil fuels is looking increasingly plausible.” – YaleGlobal