Michael Bloomberg: U.S. Can Meet Paris Climate Goals (With or Without Supreme Court)

The U.S. will meet and probably exceed its commitment to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025, Michael Bloomberg wrote on Bloomberg view. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-04-21/here-s-why-u-s-will-meet-paris-climate-goals Bloomberg's comments comes as the world leaders gather in New York on Friday to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the U.S. Supreme Court has put on hold the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan. "Their concern is understandable, but it's important to recognize: The federal government is not the primary force in the U.S. fight against climate change, and even if the court ultimately strikes down certain parts of the plan, the U.S. will meet and probably exceed its commitment to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025," Bloomberg wrote. According to Bloomberg, irrespective of the court ruling, the federal government will still have a mandate, under the Clean Air Act, to limit carbon pollution from power plants, cars and trucks, and other major sources. Bloomberg, who is UN secretary-general's special envoy for cities and climate change, said the target is "modest," as by 2015, the U.S. had already cut emissions by 11 percent compared with 2005 levels. "So our starting line was nearly halfway to our goal. Given this progress, many of us believed that President Obama should have set a more ambitious target. Even now, with the Clean Power Plan on hold, a more ambitious goal is achievable," Bloomberg added.