Originally published on the CGS blog on May 13, 2009.
Former President Jimmy Carter spoke at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, May 12. During the hearing it seemed the panel’s main goal was to hear what Carter had to say about the current climate crisis and how it affects United States foreign relations.
Senators Kerry and Lugar made it a point to highlight the nation’s addiction to oil, as well as the resulting need to create and use new forms of clean energy. This is caused by our relationship with OPEC members who supply the U.S. and other countries with oil. Our dependency on the resource has made foreign relations issues regarding national security and the import deficit more difficult to negotiate.
Both Senators praised Carter for his efforts to bring about change in how we use energy during his administration. Even though Carter had already made it clear that climate change and new renewable energy sources needed to be addressed, following Carter’s presidency, Reagan and other presidents decided climate change was not a priority. In his testimony, Carter used examples of other countries that have already made the change. He cited Spain, which is now close to using wind energy for almost 50% of its energy sources. Carter also asserted that the President himself needs to make the push for change in renewable energy sources in order for anything to really happen.
Finally, Carter asserted that the United States needs to get other countries, such as China and India, on to the same agenda as the U.S. regarding clean energy. He also stated that the nation needs to take a firm stand as a leader in the upcoming Copenhagen meetings; this would be the best chance for the United States to take a lead role for climate change efforts in the international arena.
