Dr Andrew Glencross ~ andrew.glencross@eui.eu

1. Government and Politics of the USA Hillary Term, Lecture 31 The Environment and Energy Dr Andrew Glencross ~ andrew.glencross@eui.eu

2. Required reading… Singh chap. 16 Flynt Leverett, Black is the New Green, The National Interest, Jan/Feb 2008 Additional resources… Michael Kraft, Environmental Policy and Politics, 2001 (PL-410-679) Richard Heinberg, The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, 2003 (PL-410-990) Readings for today

3. Environment: “What can government do and what should it do?” Energy: ‘How will US domestic and foreign policy adapt to the competition for energy resources?” Key Questions

4. Overview of American Environmental Policy Current Issues in Environmental Policy Car Emissions and Nuclear Waste US Energy Policy Energy Policy and Foreign Relations Environmental and Energy Policy in the 2008 Election Agenda

5. Energy Climate Change Overview of American Environmental Policy

6. Emissions: vehicles represent 51% of household CO² emissions and 26% of total US emissions The Fed Govt: under the Clean Air Act, the fed govt sets minimum standards for air quality but states’ plans for reducing air pollution require EPA approval The States: California passed 2002 law requiring carmakers to cut greenhouse gases by 25% Conflict: carmakers sued Cal arguing this was a fuel economy law, which is the prerogative of the fed govt, the state won that case but in 2007 the EPA rejected waiver for this air pollution law so the state now suing EPA Current Issues in Environmental Policy The Problem of Car Emissions

7. In 1982 Congress asked Dept of Energy to find a site for an underground repository for nuclear waste In 1987 Congress settled on Yucca Mountain site in Nevada, due to become operational by 1998 but never has, now set to open in 2017 Current Issues in Environmental Policy The Problem of Nuclear Waste

8. In 2002 Dept of Energy confirmed Yucca as place for repository, accepted by Bush But strongly opposed by state politicians, using arguments about the site’s vulnerability to earthquakes and hazards of transportation; 70% of Nevadans against Result is a stalemate but with important environmental and security implications Waste currently temporarily stored over ground at nuclear facilities across country Current Issues in Environmental Policy The Problem of Nuclear Waste

9. US Energy Policy • The ultimate ambition would be energy independence, in particular to eliminate dependence on foreign oil • Federal measures taken to this end include: energy efficiency legislation, switch to biofuel, increase in nuclear power and renewables • But these measures cannot eradicate in short term dependency on petrol, which covers 40% of US energy needs of which 40% is consumed by cars • Consequently US foreign policy increasingly tilted towards energy needs, especially oil

10. History: US energy needs has influenced foreign policy since 1945 when Roosevelt struck oil for security deal with Ibn Saud Change in Policy: US becomes net oil importer in 70s and in 1979 loses ally Iran to Islamic revolution, consequently adopts an “over the horizon” stance, leads to creation of fifth fleet, CENTCOM and pre-positioning of equipment for rapid deployment First Gulf War changes everything: US goal was to protect Saudi Arabia before evicting Saddam from Kuwait Continuing presence of US troops, “infidels”, inflamed Bin Laden who wants to drive them out and punish Saudi Arabian regime for allowing them in first place Energy Policy and Foreign Relations

11. Second Gulf War: confirms the principle of permanent military presence in Mid East in order to secure oil supplies, thereby continuing to galvanise terrorist threat Consequences: Mid East oil countries turning towards Asian manufacturing countries, which could prove a formidable alliance, especially if oil prices keep rising Meanwhile US seeks to diversify its oil supply, particularly massive tar sands in Canada Thus have makings of possible world standoff between democratic and non democratic regimes Energy Policy and Foreign Relations

12. “Concert of Democracies” – considered by both neo-cons and liberal interventionists as a way of justifying US-led hegemony, including military interventions. But in response alliance of oil-producing authoritarian regimes and E. Asian countries – axis of oil – could challenge US power These countries have huge financial clout, which could be used against US by refusing to buy US Treasury bonds or destabilising dollar Hence foreign policy realists advocate end to idea of spreading democracy through US power, return to “over the horizon” military stance in Mid East and less confrontation with Russia Energy Policy and Foreign Relations Democracy vs Authoritarianism

13. McCain – as a federalist, supports California in suit against EPA, believes US has to act on climate change but only in concert with India and China, sees oil dependence as both security and environmental issue Clinton – wants a successor to Kyoto, insists on fed support for renewables as part of “green collar” economic stimulus, opposed to Yucca mountain, Obama – in favour of domestic scheme for emissions trading, wants to encourage exports of clean fuel technology to developing world, mandate that by 2020 25% of electricity produced by renewables, committed to biofuels Environmental and Energy Policy in the Election The Environment

14. McCain – prepared for long military presence in Iraq, wants to counteract Iranian influence in region, favours concert of democracy rather than UN Obama and Clinton – both seek Iraq pullout, insist on multilateralism in foreign affairs, democracy key value in foreign policy but not to be achieved through belligerence Environmental and Energy Policy in the Election Energy Policy and Foreign Relations