The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that the United States, among other countries, should start taking steps to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, these efforts are being delayed due to unresolved political arguments.
The mitigating measures started by the Obama administration were always being criticized by Republicans, questioning the very science of global warming. In February, Obama announced that he will be allotting a $1 billion fund to help communities combat the effects of climate change. According to the White House, the funds will be used to help people across the United States to cope up with extreme climate change effects such as floods, heat waves, wildfires, and drought. It will also be utilized to fund studies related to the effects of climate change particularly extreme temperatures and increasing sea levels. Other parts of the fund are allocated to create new technologies and strong infrastructure which includes more durable electricity systems and sea walls.
"What would be required is a nationwide carbon pricing policy," director of Harvard's environmental economics program and a lead author of the report, Robert Stavins told the New York Times. "And that would not be possible without action from Congress."
Democrats have already filed for bills that will impose fines on greenhouse gas emitters like coal-powered plants. This happened in 1993, under Bill Clinton's administration and in 2010, under Barrack Obama's leadership but both motions failed. Supporters of such bills were constantly attacked by Republicans, calling these Tea Party-affiliated parties "super PACs".
On the Republican Party's side, most of their members are questioning the science behind the role of carbon emissions in climate change. This is despite of the polls which show that most Americans believe that climate change is real and the government should do something about it.
Since no concrete action is expected from the Congress, Pres. Obama has already started some policies on his own, including the mandate of the Clean Air Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency that will monitor greenhouse emissions from plants and cars.
On the other hand, Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who is a Republican, stated that he will do everything in his power to stop policies increasing fines and taxes on businesses dependent on coal.
