Obama claims green businesses will "have an ally in Washington"

US president-elect Barack Obama yesterday reiterated his plans to rebuild the reputation of the US as a leader in the fight against climate change, promising a decisive break with the environmental policies of the Bush White House.

Speaking via video link to delegates at a climate change summit hosted by California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Obama promised a "new chapter in America's leadership on climate change", and reiterated campaign commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and invest $150bn in clean tech over the next decade.

He also said that while he would not attend next month's UN-backed climate change negotiations in Poland the US approach to the talks would change next year.

"Once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations, and help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change," he said.

Echoing his previous speeches on energy and the environment, Obama argued there were strong economic reasons for investing in low carbon technologies and business models, claiming that investment would not only cut emissions but also reduce dependence on foreign oil and help "steer our country out of this economic crisis by generating five million new green jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced".

He also pledged that alongside increased investment in clean tech there would be a change in attitude towards the environment at the highest echelons of government.
"When I am president, any governor who's willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House," he said. "Any company that's willing to invest in clean energy will have an ally in Washington. And any nation that's willing to join the cause of combating climate change will have an ally in the United States of America."

Obama's appearance further underlined Governor Schwarzenegger's position as one of the leading political figures in the US committed to tackling climate change and will further fuel speculation that he could be offered a position in an Obama administration that the president-elect has said will include at least one Republican.

The summit came as Schwarzenegger this week unveiled further legislation designed to cement California's position as a world leading player in both the fight against climate change and the clean tech sector.

Earlier this week, he announced plans to raise the proportion of energy the state generates from renewable sources to 33 per cent by 2020.

Hailing the move - which follows a commitment to generate 20 per cent of the energy mix from renewables by 2010 - as "the most aggressive target in the nation, Schwarzenegger said that he would also move to make it easier for renewable energy projects to gain planning approval.

"We won't meet that goal doing business as usual, where environmental regulations are holding up environmental progress in some cases," he said. " This executive order will clear the red tape for renewable projects and streamline the permitting and siting of new plants and transmission lines."

The governor also joined with Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and six governors from Brazil and Indonesia to sign a memorandum of understanding designed to support forestry projects.

He said the agreement would see the governors work together to "jointly develop rules, incentives and tools to ensure reduced emissions from deforestation and land degradation".