Focus on Focus Earth: Obama's Green Team

Since the election, environmentalists everywhere have been waiting to see who will be chosen to fill Barack Obama's administration. Finding the right people to fill key positions is critical to developing successful solutions to pressing environmental issues but knowing who will be best able to advice the president is difficult. This week, some of the guessing and wondering ended when it was announced that three key positions have been decided. Who are the nominees and what will they bring to the new administration?

The first nominee, for the position of Secretary of Energy, is Nobel-prize winning physicist Steven Chu. Since 2006, Chu has been the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he has led research in biofuels and solar energy. A strong supporter of alternative energy, Chu once declared "coal is my worst nightmare." While the choice bodes well for Obama's energy policy, some fear that Chu does not have the experience in politics to be an effective cabinet member.

The next selection, for the position of director of the EPA, is Lisa Jackson. While the choice of Steven Chu was largely met with praise from environmentalists, Jackson's probable appointment has faced more controversy. Though she has been the director of the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency since 2004 and, in the face of federal deregulation, has worked to implement strict environmental controls in her state, not all view her record in a positive light. Critics point to reports that Jackson may have neglected to label hazardous waste sites, ignored increases in air and water pollution, and missed emissions reduction deadlines.

The third expected appointment, for the newly created position of "White House energy czar," is Carol Browner. Browner was an administrator in the EPA from 1993 to 2001 and also led the EPA in Florida. There has been some concern that it will interfere with the long-establish roles of the EPA and Secretary of Energy and Interior. However, Browner explained that "every department retains all of its statutory responsibilities...these are offices and councils that bring together all of the authorities that rest in individual departments creating more opportunity to do the kind of things that the president wants to do."

With persistent signs of global warming, looming energy and water crises, and continued threats to habitats and biodiversity, the stakes are high for incoming administration. Hopefully, Barack Obama's appointments will help him implement a green platform to address these important issues.

Find out more about the latest environmental and political news on Focus Earth: December 13, 2008: Cap and Trade Delay & Obama's Green Team.

Read more about green politics:
Barack Obama Faces Environmental Clean Up After Two Centuries of Bingeing: Bill McKibben
Write Your Congressman—Make a Positive Eco Impact
Get Local Politicians to Go Green