Naomi Klein: Obama Is Beginning to Sound Like a Climate Leader, When Will He Act Like One?

"Obama does not deserve to be called a climate leader simply because he has introduced what is a pretty good plan for cutting emissions from coal-fired power plants," says Klein. "I'm not saying that's not important. It's a step in the right direction. But simultaneously, he's taking some significant steps in the wrong direction with Arctic drilling, with--you know, he's overseen an explosion of fracking for gas. He's still waffling on the Keystone XL pipeline." (Image: Democracy Now!/Screenshot)

Naomi Klein: Obama Is Beginning to Sound Like a Climate Leader, When Will He Act Like One?

"Frankly," says author and activist, Obama's newly announced proposal, "does not buy a climate legacy. It’s not enough, because it isn’t in line with science, and it also isn’t in line with technology."

As scientists warn 2015 is on pace to become the Earth's hottest year on record, President Obama has unveiled his long-awaited plan to slash carbon emissions from U.S. power plants. Under new Environmental Protection Agency regulations, U.S. power plants will be required to cut emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. In addition, new power plants will be required to be far cleaner, which could effectively prevent any new coal plants from opening. But does the plan go far enough? We speak to Naomi Klein, author of the best-selling book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, which is out in paperback today.

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Part II:

Rush transcript available here.

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