Michael Grosvenor is a leading urban and transport planning professional and freelance writer on sustainable living. His books include Sustainable Living For Dummies (Green Living For Dummies in the UK and US); Energy Saving Tips For Dummies; and Water Saving Tips For Dummies. Through his work and writing, Michael promotes the benefits of making sustainable lifestyle choices. Michael has a particular expertise in advising the private sector and government on policies that promote increased public transport, walking and cycling. Michael is a strong advocate for the important role that public transport plays in our cities and towns. Michael is the Director of his own consultancy and holds Masters Degrees in Urban Affairs and Applied Social Research and a Degree in Town Planning.

The majority of climate scientists continue to urge politicians around the world to take drastic action within the next 5 to 10 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – or else. Although we are now well informed by these scientists as to what this “or else” might be (increased temperatures, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, changing ecosystems, more diseases etc), it appears that the US electorate is still not convinced there is an urgent problem and do not appear to be placing the required pressure on politicians to implement serious policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What is this necessary action we need our politicians to take? Well, whatever it takes to cap greenhouse gas emissions at levels that will slow the increase in global temperatures. Barack Obama, John McCain and politicians at all levels of Government should be supporting policies that markedly shift US reliance on dirty energy to a society reliant on clean energy. These policies should include:

• Increasing the proportion of electrical energy generated from clean sources (solar and wind in particular) and simultaneously reducing the proportion of energy sourced from coal.

• Introducing a permit and trading system that caps future emissions to manageable levels.

• Setting mandatory targets for new cars to be powered by low emission fuels.

• Introducing stricter green building codes for all new development, including housing.

• Developing a national model for new urban development that is based on Smart Growth principles, which ensures new development is integrated with trunk public transport services, subsequently reducing the current over-reliance on cars.

• Supporting an increase in budgetary spending on new public transport networks in preference to new road building or expansion.

In the leadup to the US election in November, Obama and McCain are saying that they can do anything, anytime for every single American, including tackling climate change. Both believe that emissions need to be curbed (although Obama wants more cuts in emissions than McCain does) and both believe in a cap-and-trade emissions program. But the big difference, unsurprisingly, is that Obama sees much more of a role for Government in developing a future with less greenhouse gas emissions whereas McCain’s strategies depend on market forces to get you there, as well as making strong push for nuclear power as an alternative energy source.

But how serious are both going to be to lead the way towards urgent change when the electorate itself does not yet see it as urgent? The website pollingreport.com provides regular updates ranking those issues that are most important to people in considering the upcoming election. At the moment, climate change and the environment is polling as a minor consideration. Issues that rank higher than climate change include the Iraq War, the economy/jobs, gas prices and health care. Which are all very important of course but it’s disappointing that, in general, the population still does not see climate change and the environment as equally important as these issues, especially in comparison to the gas price issue.

My worry is that if people are not yet convinced that there is an urgency regarding climate change, then much of the rhetoric that we are hearing from Obama and McCain on this important issue might result in a half-hearted attempt to be seen to be doing something to placate the concerned few rather than doing anything meaningful. The issue therefore is not to convince Obama and McCain to do something about climate change – I think deep down they know something serious needs to be done. It is convincing the American people that something needs to be done. And this might just be the new President’s first great climate change challenge – before it is too late.

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Update on Sep 17, 2008 by At Basil & Spice

Reuters!