How Pete Buttigieg would tackle climate change

[brooklynite]

Politico

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg unveiled a three-pronged plan Wednesday on how he would combat climate change if elected president.

Buttigieg's plan tracks with some other 2020 Democratic hopefuls' proposals with its focus on farmers and disadvantaged communities, and by setting a goal for net-zero emissions by 2050. But the plan differs from some by calling for an economy-wide carbon price and by targeting a "thriving" carbon removal industry by 2040.

"We must channel all of our energies into a national project — one that unifies every American, from big cities to rural communities, around this urgent threat and seizes the tremendous opportunity of a new era of climate action," Buttigieg said in the plan.

...snip...

Buttigieg calls for generating 100 percent of electricity in the U.S. by 2035 without producing carbon emissions, a goal that would leave room for continued use of nuclear energy and the potential for natural gas or coal plants that would capture their emissions. By 2040, the plan calls for net-zero emissions for all new heavy-duty vehicles, buses, rail, ships and aircraft. And it calls for net-zero emissions from all other industries — including steel, manufacturing and agriculture — by 2050.

Buttigieg would renew the United States' commitment to the Obama-era Paris climate agreement and would double the United States' pledge to the Green Climate Fund. Buttigieg also calls for the elimination of tax subsidies for fossil fuel industries and for banning new leases on public lands of fossil production.

[mr_lebowski]

1. That sounds reasonable and more importantly reasonably do-able ...

Is it nearly enough? That's another question. May very well not be sadly.

Still good to hear a plan that makes sense and has a chance of happening from our cohort.

[MBS]

2. And here's his formal climate plan, just posted

https://peteforamerica.com/climate

Basic elements. . .MUCH more at the link, including additional links to more detailed descriptions of each part of the plan.

PART I
BUILD A CLEAN ECONOMY. . .
The first step of our plan is to work with Congress and existing executive authorities to implement a bold and achievable Green New Deal. We are setting a realistic plan to become a net-zero emissions society no later than 2050 based on a comprehensive set of targets and actions. . .
To achieve this, we will enact a price on carbon and use the revenue to send rebates to Americans. With money returned directly to their pockets, lower- and middle-class households in particular will experience economic gains.
. . .
.
We will also quadruple federal clean energy R&D funding to invest more than $200 billion over 10 years in developing new technologies. We will build three investment funds to spur clean technology development, including a $250 billion American Clean Energy Bank to fund locally-led clean energy projects, particularly in disadvantaged communities; a 10-year, $250 billion Global Investment Initiative to harness American innovation for clean energy and infrastructure projects around the world and counter China’s Belt and Road initiative; and a $50 billion American Cleantech Fund to fund demonstration projects.. ..

PART II
INVEST IN RESILIENCE
. .. We must protect communities by establishing next-generation Regional Resilience Hubs to help communities understand and manage their risks. The Hubs would be complemented by $5 billion per year in Resilient America Grants to support building resilient infrastructure and set a national climate risk reduction standard for federal investments. We will create a National Catastrophic Disaster Insurance program to provide stability to individuals and communities who experience the major disruptions caused by climate change and other natural risks such as earthquakes. And we will prioritize equitable disaster preparedness and relief so that all communities get the resources they need to prepare for, recover from, and rebuild from disasters, particularly communities of color; people with disabilities; seniors; and other populations especially vulnerable to climate impacts.. . .

PART III
DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP
Confronting the threat of climate change mandates a global effort. We will renew America’s commitment under the Paris Climate Agreement. As climate change worsens, the Arctic Ocean will be on the front lines of its impacts. We will revitalize U.S. leadership in the Arctic Council so we can reduce emissions and oppose drilling in that region.

But joining global coalitions is not sufficient. We must also restore American leadership and put the world on a path to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. We will rebuild our most important alliances and heal internal divisions by bringing together Americans right here at home. We will change how the federal government works on climate change solutions, sets aggressive standards and goals, and empowers state and local governments. We will convene local and regional leaders from around the country and world in a Pittsburgh Summit aimed at developing buy-in for decisive and bold climate action at a local level.

In the absence of congressional action on climate change, we will use every executive authority available to reduce emissions and require resilience in infrastructure. We will increase the climate planning and regional readiness budget at the Department of Defense (DOD) to allow our military leaders to build resilience for military bases and installations. We will also elevate and integrate climate security and resilience at DOD by creating a senior climate security role in the Secretary of Defense’s office responsible for managing climate security risks.

In the history of humanity, we have faced few crises like the threat posed by our changing climate. But the magnitude of the crisis can also galvanize us to rise to the occasion and build a safer, healthier, and more prosperous world. If we come together and harness the power of every American—from scientists and growers to students and auto workers—we will be proud of our response to this emergency.

[crazytown]

3. Um

There's no ponies who eat lots of grass and emit zero methane?

"A realistic plan to become a net-zero emissions society no later than 2050". Sounds fine - the devil is in the details as per usual. Looking forward to hearing Pete on the CNN town hall - it is his best format.