Obama to vow greenhouse emissions cuts in Denmark

[deminks]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_copenhagen

WASHINGTON – Putting his prestige on the line, President Barack Obama will personally commit the U.S. to a goal of substantially cutting greenhouse gases at next month's Copenhagen climate summit. He will insist America is ready to tackle global warming despite resistance in Congress over higher costs for businesses and homeowners.

Obama will attend the start of the conference Dec. 9, a week from next Wednesday, before heading to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. He will "put on the table" a U.S. commitment to cut emissions by 17 percent over the next decade, on the way to reducing heat-trapping pollution by 80 percent by mid-century, the White House said.

Cutting U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by one-sixth in just a decade would be likely to hike energy bills, but the administration says there would be important health trade-offs.

Carol Browner, Obama's assistant for energy and climate change, cited a $173-per-year estimated cost in a briefing Wednesday — a figure for a family of four calculated by the Congressional Budget Office. Republicans say costs would be higher.

But slashing carbon dioxide emissions could save millions of lives, mostly by reducing preventable deaths from heart and lung diseases, according to studies published this week in The Lancet British medical journal.

(end snip)

"putting his prestige on the line" is a right wing talking point. Otherwise good news. Regardless of what you think of global warming and environmental issues, there is nothing wrong with being a good steward of the planet.

[deminks]

1. So, I see Sen. McShame's minions are here tonight.

But tell me, how do you get paid for unrecs? I mean, how do you prove them to the boss-man? Just curious.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. I thought he said he wouldn't go to Copenhagen

because it's too close in time to the Nobel ceremonies in Oslo.