Click to play videoNew Delhi: After the US presidential election donnybrook has begun to sink in, the environmentalists are wary whether the president-elect Obama's mantra of change will make a difference to climate change and its impact on the planet?
With the US being the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, energy security is an issue America needs to deal with.
Can Obama play captain planet?
Obama, president elect says, "For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.”
Its a sign that global warming and the crisis it entails, is nothing short of a combat for the president elect, as he prepares to head the world's most powerful country.
Many global organisations, countries and environmentalists are already celebrating. And India, which has not seen eye to eye with the US on climate change policies in the past, has reason to hope.
Principal Advisor, Energy- Planning Commision Surya Sethi says, "They will be more receptive to our concerns."
Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R K Pachauri says, “I know his (Obama’s) advisors. They are rational people. I have continuous interaction with them. He realises that US and developed nations need to take a lead. Developing countries cannot do what developed counties need to do.”
One of the biggest fallouts of climate change talks so far have been the American reluctance to come on board and pledge binding cuts on carbon emissions until emerging economies like India and China did the same.
However, that could well change. Obama has in the past talked about America taking on an 80 per cent cut in green house gas emissions by 2025.
Obama's campaign promises from the very start was to push a climate change bill, but with US seeing a recession, many feel he may not use his political muscle to push contentious green house gas laws just yet.
What could happen though is a legislation early next year on renewable energy. A move to solar and wind energy and investments in clean power.
This, he hopes will also create millions of jobs, at a time when unemployment is at a 5 year high.
America has voted for change. Many hope this is one change that will finally help the climate.
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