Sweeping Order Tells Fed Agencies to Cut Greenhouse Emissions

WASHINGTON (CN) - President Obama has issued a sweeping executive order to all departments and agencies of the federal government ordering them to set a 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target within 90 days.

The order requires the agencies to increase energy efficiency, reduce fleet petroleum consumption; conserve water; reduce waste; support sustainable communities; and leverage federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.

With nearly 500,000 buildings, more than 600,000 vehicles, and employing more than 1.8 million civilians, and purchasing more than $500 billion per year in goods and services, Obama said that "...the federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally-responsible products and technologies,..."

Specific targets in the order include a 30 percent reduction in vehicle fossil fuel use by 2020; a 26 percent improvement in water efficiency by 2020; a 50 percent recycling and waste diversion by 2015; making sure that 95 percent of all applicable contracts will meet sustainability requirements; implementation of the 2030 net-zero-energy building requirement in the USA Recovery Act; and implementation of the stormwater provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit