The head of the Environmental Protection Agency told attendees at the Paris climate talks “there’s no going back” on U.S. regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy spoke Tuesday morning at the 21st Conference of the Parties, better known as COP21, and sought to reassure those in attendance that Congress wouldn’t undo U.S. commitments to the climate change talks.
That’s the exact opposite of the message coming from many Republicans in Congress.
House Republicans last week voted to block the Clean Power Plan, the signature part of President Obama’s plans for the Paris talks. On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is holding a hearing questioning the science of climate change.
Still, McCarthy wanted the world to know the Obama administration isn’t backing down.
“There’s no going back,” she said. “American law requires that we act to reduce greenhouse gases, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.”
While McCarthy touched on the activities of multiple government agencies, the centerpiece of her speech was the program that is most under threat: the Clean Power Plan.
The rules would set carbon emissions targets for each state on new and existing power plants, with the goal being a 32-percent reduction in carbon emissions from the power sector over 2005 levels by 2030. Many scientists blame greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels for driving manmade climate change.
The regulation is under siege. Twenty-seven states have sued to block the rule, along with a large number of industry groups. Congress has passed two resolutions that would block the rule. Obama is expected to veto those resolutions.
Many in Congress say the regulation is illegal and will be repealed, but McCarthy repeated her belief the Clean Power Plan will survive.
“I also want to assure you that our plan will stick, and it will stand the test of time. First, it’s based on science and the law,” McCarthy said. “Second, when I go out on the road to cities and towns across the U.S., it’s crystal clear that the American people want climate action. I see it at the community level all the way up through polls at the national scale.”
McCarthy touted the U.S. work on cutting carbon emissions, saying the U.S. has cut carbon pollution more than any other nation on earth during the last 10 years. She added the U.S. now generates three times more wind power and 30 times more solar power than before Obama took office.
She added that many private companies are taking their own steps to cut back on their carbon footprints and move toward more clean and renewable energy.
“It’s incredible to see the way the private sector is embracing climate action,” she said. “These are clear signals about where our markets are heading. Clean energy innovation is being rewarded. That’s the trajectory we’re already on, and that’s the market signal we need to open up the door to innovation.”
