Climate change problem and United States

United States have not only responsibility as the world's most powerful nation to do everything what it takes to fight global warming and climate change, US also has moral duty to work on climate change problem solutions, after all US industry sector and excessive greenhouse gas emissions are mostly responsible for climate change, and though many eyes are looking at China, US emissions are still the world's highest per capita. So what will US do to make the difference?

New president that considers climate change problem as one of top priorities was definitely an important first step, especially when compared with his predecessor George Bush who during his eight years did everything in favor of industry and different oil lobbies, and really couldn't care less for environmental issues. Unlike Bush Obama looks like the "Chosen One", a real leader that will lead not only US but the whole world to climate change solutions. Hope is definitely there but current situation is also raising some doubts. Most of all in form of recession and global financial crisis.

Current economic situation in United States hasn't been this difficult for 80 years, since the Great depression, and US economy is really on its knees, with many big companies struggling and asking for aid, and millions of people losing their jobs. In such a surroundings it is difficult to focus only on climate change and environmental issues, and many environmentalists believe that once again economy will be more important, and how long awaited new international agreement won't happen as soon as many think it will. Barrack Obama has promised significant decrease in US greenhouse gas emissions, and how US will play major role in new international climate change agreement. But if economy continues with its downfall even further it will be very difficult to keep this promise, especially since there are many in Congress that believe how climate change is still not among top US priorities. History should be a great remainder here as in 1997 Bill Clinton signed Kyoto protocol that was later rejected by Senate. And in 1997 there was no such thing as global financial crisis so doubters have every reason to feel that things won't change this time either.

So what is the conclusion? To hope or not to hope? At this moment hope is all we are left with, and though we have learned so many times that politics have no problem in making the promises, unlike actually doing what they promised to do, we still believe that things will change, even despite the global financial crisis. Environmental issues are top priority that require urgent action - even politicians should have realized this by now. But have they really? We will soon see.