QOTD: Change the World's Climate by 2030 or Just Talk About It?

Jason R. Sakurai
by Jason R. Sakurai

The world’s climate has been centerstage the last two days. President Biden and other world leaders have vowed to reduce global warming by making drastic changes. Will they follow through?

At the 2015 Paris climate accord, then-President Obama set greenhouse gas reduction at half what Biden has proposed. Former President Trump, Obama’s successor, did little to forward this, but is it realistic for Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president, to double down on Obama’s goal in a relatively short time frame?

We noted that a 52 percent reduction in emissions is Biden’s goal. Canada committed to a 40 percent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. Japan is aiming for a 50 percent cut from 2013 levels by the end of the decade. Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said he would end illegal deforestation in his country by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Bolsonaro had previously criticized protection of the country’s forests and threatened to withdraw from the Paris accord, but Brazil is now asking the Biden administration to provide $1 billion to pay for Amazon rainforest conservation.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said his country will curb emissions by 46 percent by 2030. Japan had committed to a 26 percent reduction, a goal criticized as insufficient.

“Japan is ready to demonstrate its leadership for worldwide decarbonization,” said Suga. Like the U.S., Japan pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell dismissed Biden’s plan as costly and ineffective. Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure bill includes up to $1 trillion in clean energy and climate change spending. This covers 500,000 electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations, solar and wind power expansion, and carbon pollution storage. $174 billion would go towards EVs and buses for children, commuters, and truckers. Another $50 billion would go to make the infrastructure more weather-resilient, plus $100 billion for a power grid update. Biden’s bill would add 2.7 million jobs, according to Moody’s Analytics.

Biden’s grand carbon emissions plan could be blocked should the infrastructure bill go unapproved. Still, Administration officials say regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency, Transportation Department, and other agencies could still effect change.

[Image: Mercedes-Benz]

Jason R. Sakurai
Jason R. Sakurai

With a father who owned a dealership, I literally grew up in the business. After college, I worked for GM, Nissan and Mazda, writing articles for automotive enthusiast magazines as a side gig. I discovered you could make a living selling ad space at Four Wheeler magazine, before I moved on to selling TV for the National Hot Rod Association. After that, I started Roadhouse, a marketing, advertising and PR firm dedicated to the automotive, outdoor/apparel, and entertainment industries. Through the years, I continued writing, shooting, and editing. It keep things interesting.

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  • Art Vandelay Art Vandelay on Apr 27, 2021

    Meh, this effects mainly the working poor that are trying to keep that 3800 Buick running. They overwhelmingly voted for Biden in spite of him saying this is exactly what he was going to do. On the plus side he seems to be putting some money into mass transit so they'll have to give up a little freedom, but should still be able to get to work via the bus. Again, this is what he said he'd do so there should be no grumbling about it.

    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Apr 27, 2021

      Their voting habits are akin to the beatings will continue until morale improves. If they had any sense, they would organize via the [damn] cell phones and send a message that they will dump their votes to a third party until their lives are improved beyond crumbs. "money into mass transit" Pension bailouts.

  • Singlespeeds Singlespeeds on Apr 27, 2021

    i would take all ev's just to get rid of the noise from ICE. to many in the ICE fleet have been modified to make more noise. even some stock ICE are to loud.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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