Next Steps: What Obama Must Do Now for the Environment

Rolling Stone Magazine

10 key ideas for new climate change and energy policies in the president's second term

President Obama is in no danger of being judged by history as an eco-radical. Yes, in his first term, he increased fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, boosted wind and solar power and limited mercury pollution from coal plants. But his silence on the biggest issue of our time – climate change – has been deafening. Now Obama has another shot at it. What should the president do on climate and energy in his second term? Here are 10 ideas:

1. Give the Big Climate Speech

"We want our children to live in an America that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet," President Obama said in his acceptance speech a few weeks ago. That's a good start, but it's not even close to what needs to be said by the President of the United States about the biggest challenge civilization has ever faced. Failing to address climate change straightforwardly is the biggest failure of Obama's first term. In his second term, Obama needs to end the climate silence and describe the risks the world faces by continuing to dump carbon into the atmosphere, as well as his plan to address it. Obama said in a recent interview that his biggest mistake as president was not being a better storyteller. Well, here's his chance. Climate change is the biggest story of our time. He needs to tell it.

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I personally believe that nature will force Mr Obama's hand. In the next few years, climate change is expected to begin hitting full force. I just wish Obama would start preparing the country for what is coming.