US President Barack Obama last week unveiled what he called “the biggest, most important step we have ever taken” in tackling climate change. In a bold move, he announced that the revised Clean Power Plan will cut greenhouse gas emissions from US power stations by nearly a third from 2005 levels by 2030.

This is nine per cent more than the proposed rules previously established by Obama and is an important step in the fight against climate change. The plan also places significant emphasis on wind and solar power and other renewable energy sources.

To put Obama’s proposals into perspective, however, the Clean Power Plan will cut 10 per cent of US gas emissions, which is less than two per cent of the world total. It is nevertheless still signifi­cant and an important example to the world. Obama explained that his plan was equivalent to taking 166 million cars off the road in terms of environmental impact, which is surely substantial.

Much more needs to be done by other countries, of course, but the fact that the US is leading the way on this important issue, which is fast becoming a security threat, is encouraging. Furthermore, the plan will hopefully help the climate summit in Paris in December reach a deal and might encourage other countries to submit their own plans.

Obama will be able to lead by example at the Paris summit and he has an opportunity to play a crucial role there. Indeed, if Obama is able to broker a landmark climate deal it will be a huge boost for his legacy. Such a deal, if really significant, will even overshadow Obama’s other great successes, such as his healthcare legislation, the fact that he rescued the US economy from the disastrous state it was in when he took office, and of course, the Iranian nuclear deal.

There has already been some progress on the world stage regarding climate change. Last autumn, Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a bilateral pact for cutting emissions, with China – the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world – agreeing to cap emissions for the first time by 2030. Beijing also announced it will increase the proportion of its non-fossil energy to 20 per cent.

I believe there is such a thing as being too late- US President Barack Obama

Obama also reached an understanding with Narenda Modi, India’s Prime Minister, to work together on tackling climate change, although there was no emissions cuts deal from Delhi. And the European Union has already endorsed a binding 40 per cent greenhouse gas emissions target by 2030.

Obama’s plan sets carbon pollution reduction goals for power plants and requires states to implement plans to meet goals. States have until September 2016 to submit plans, but must comply by 2022. Some states, either those with Republican governors or those that have a coal mining industry (such as Wyoming, West Virginia and Kentucky) have already criticised Obama’s proposal, but I feel that the country is with Obama on this issue which really affects everyday lives.

It is probable that climate change will be an important electoral topic in next year’s US presi­dential election, and if Hilary Clinton plays her cards well (or whoever the Democratic candidate might be) tackling climate change could well turn out to be a vote-winner, as long as people really understand just how devastating not addressing this global challenge will be.

Obama told the media during the launch of his Clean Power Plan: “I’m convinced no challenge provides a greater threat to the future of the planet. There is such a thing as being too late.” Indeed there is, and 2015 is set to be the hottest on record, so action needs to be taken soon by the international community.

Hopefully the world will come to its senses by the time the Paris climate change summit is held in December. The multilateral foundations – US, China, EU – are being laid, so with a bit of luck a deal will be reached by the end of the year.

Governments would be well-advised to read a joint communiqué by 24 of the UK’s most eminent scientific, medical and engineering bodies issued last month which says immediate action must be taken by governments to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

The communiqué, however, also says that tackling global warming would drive economic progress, benefit the health of millions by cutting air pollution and improve access to energy, water and food. To have a reasonable chance of keeping warming below 2˚C, the internationally agreed danger limit, the world must end all emissions within the next few decades, the communiqué warns.

The communiqué bluntly states: “Climate change poses risks to people and ecosystems by exacerbating existing economic, environmental, geopolitical, health and societal threats, and generating new ones. These risks increase disproportionately as the temperature increases.”

Time is running out and the world simply cannot afford to fail to live up to this challenge.

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