Echoing his campaign rhetoric, Obama is actively stacking
his team with some of the best and brightest climate change minds in the world,
which will likely be a top priority for the four most recent additions to Obama's
federal appointees for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
the White House Office of Science and Technology. GHG is clearly going to be
addressed throughout his tenure as President. The nominees come with strong
scientific credentials, and favor mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions
to fight climate change.
"It's time we once again put science at the top of our
agenda and worked to restore America's place as the world leader in science and
technology," Obama said in a taped address.
The Most Recent Appointees
- Jane Lubchenco, a marine
ecologist at Oregon State University, will head NOAA.
- John Holdren, a physicist
and professor of environmental policy at Harvard University, will serve as
the president's science adviser. He will also direct the White House
science office and serve as co-chairman of the President's Council of
Advisors on Science and Technology.
Other Co-Chairs:
- Harold Varmus, who headed
the National Institutes of Health in the Clinton administration
- MIT professor Eric Lander,
a genome research specialist
Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association of the
Advancement of Science, said choosing Holdren "would be an enlightened
appointment," while the Union of Concerned Scientists released a statement
calling Holdren, Lubchenco and Obama's pick for Energy secretary, Steven Chu,
"a science dream team."
As NOAA's leader, Lubchenco would oversee a $4 billion
agency whose responsibilities include a large portion of the federal
government's climate change research as well as marine issues. If confirmed by
the Senate, she would become the first woman, and the first marine scientist,
to head NOAA.
Holdren was a strong force during the Clinton
administration, pushing for more attention to climate change matters. As a
leader of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, he
helped focus more government and industry attention on climate change-related
technology and international clean energy initiatives, as well as on a federal
program to develop a hybrid-electric car that was later dismantled by the Bush
administration.
Obama called John Holdren, "one of the most passionate
and persistent voices of our time about the growing threat of climate
change."
The next four years are shaping up to be very good for the
battle against greenhouse gasses and climate change. |
