U.S. energy secretary: politics trumping science on climate bill

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu expresses concern that congressional politics are hampering progress on curbing fossil fuel emissions and that time is running out.

Congressional politics are trumping science. This is the claim of U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. According to BBC News, Professor Chu fears that "the world might be headed towards a tipping point on climate change." Politics aside, says Chu, we need to pass a compromised legislation and to act. As the U.S. government debates the viability of the current cap and trade bill, vital time is running out. "The House of Representatives is debating a climate and energy bill but even if it passes it may be rejected by senators, many of whom are funded by the energy industry," reports BBC. This polarized environment is certain to delay or even to derail the passage of the controversial bill. "With each successive year the news on climate change has not been good and there's a growing sensation that the world and the US in particular has to get moving," Chu told BBC. "As someone very concerned about climate I want to be as aggressive as possible but I also want to get started. And if we say we want something much more aggressive on the early timescales that would draw considerable opposition and that would delay the process for several years." Professor Chu is not short on ideas. He suggested that the first step should be a full-scale program of energy efficiency for commercial buildings. Such a move could save 80% of the energy demand needed by office conglomerates. In this scenario, the federal government would provide the necessary research and ask states to adopt tough standards. The energy secretary also sees a future where America is powered by wind and solar sources. He was quick to admit that there are technological and cost-efficiencies hurdles at present, but he supports investments in these areas. Meanwhile, the politics around the controversial cap and trade bill go on - with industries and environmentalists in the wings.