Issues

Environment

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From protecting endangered species to restoring our ecosystems and investing in clean-energy solutions, the Obama administration and Democrats are committed to working to address our biggest environmental challenges.

Under the Obama administration, the Department of Transportation issued new fuel-economy standards, the first mandated increases in fuel economy for cars in decades. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken the first steps toward regulating carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. For the first time, the U.S. will catalogue greenhouse gas emissions from large emission sources-—an important initial step toward measurable and transparent reductions.

Recent Updates
  • Weekly Address: Ending Taxpayer Subsidies for Oil Companies

    At a time when the cost of gas is reaching all time highs and the oil industry is seeing record profits, President Obama renews his call to end the $4 billion-per-year tax breaks for oil and gas companies – and, instead, invest that money to create a more sustainable energy future.

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  • President Obama in Reno: Invest Now in Tomorrow’s Energy Sources

    Throughout the week, President Obama has traveled the country talking about his plan for America’s future – a plan for prosperity through shared responsibility. In each of his three town hall meetings, the President addressed a different pillar of his vision:investing in education on Tuesday, supporting innovative technology on Wednesday, and creating a clean-energy economy yesterday.

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  • President Obama Celebrates Earth Day

    For more than 40 years, America has celebrated Earth Day. It's a time not only to celebrate the environment, but to renew our commitment to protect and preserve America’s natural habitats and ensure that our air and water are clean.

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  • President Obama Takes on Price Gouging at the Pump

    With gas prices continuing to rise, President Obama is taking a proactive approach to America’s energy needs, which includes making investments in clean and sustainable energy sources to break our country’s addiction to oil. Also part of that effort, the President is working to protect Americans from potential price gouging.

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Recent Action
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency
President Obama signed an Executive Order directing the federal government to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2020, become more energy efficient, and decrease petroleum consumption.
Protecting public lands and natural habitats
Democrats passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, a sweeping conservation measure that will protect and preserve America’s forests, rivers, oceans, national parks, monuments, and public lands for future generations.
Milestones