President Obama Issues Executive Order to Federal Agencies Mandating Designation of Officer Responsible for Climate Change Response
On October 5, 2009, President Obama issued an Executive Order mandating that each federal agency "develop, implement, and annually update” an integrated plan to address greenhouse gas (GHG) management, renewable energy use, water efficiency, pollution prevention, regional and local transportation planning, sustainable facility development, and electronics stewardship. The order mandates that the "head of each agency designate from amongst its senior management officials an officer who shall be accountable for agency conformance with the requirements of [the] order and shall report such designation to the OMB Director and the CEQ Chair."
Each agency must establish GHG emissions reduction targets to be realized by 2020 by decreasing energy use, increasing reliance on renewable energy, reducing fossil fuels in vehicles and fleets, and developing policies and practices to control indirect emissions, i.e., those attributable to suppliers and vendors. Agencies must also report their direct and indirect GHG emissions, including emissions attributable to vendor supply chains, delivery services, and employee travel and commuting. The Department of Energy (DOE) is charged with developing GHG accounting and reporting standards for agencies to use to fulfill their obligations.
In addition, relevant agencies are directed to:
CEQ, the OMB, and the Federal Environmental Executive will oversee agency compliance. The General Services Administration is to develop recommendations on the feasibility of requiring vendors and contractors to report GHG emissions and to make available GHG mitigation efforts, as well as on using federal purchasing preferences as incentives to minimize GHG emissions.
To download a copy of the full memo, please click here.
Each agency must establish GHG emissions reduction targets to be realized by 2020 by decreasing energy use, increasing reliance on renewable energy, reducing fossil fuels in vehicles and fleets, and developing policies and practices to control indirect emissions, i.e., those attributable to suppliers and vendors. Agencies must also report their direct and indirect GHG emissions, including emissions attributable to vendor supply chains, delivery services, and employee travel and commuting. The Department of Energy (DOE) is charged with developing GHG accounting and reporting standards for agencies to use to fulfill their obligations.
In addition, relevant agencies are directed to:
- participate in regional transportation planning to increase the effectiveness of environmental and energy management;
- design, construct, operate, and manage sustainable federal buildings;
- ensure that 95 percent of new contracts for products and services are energy-efficient, water efficient, bio-based, environmentally preferable, non-ozone depleting, made from recycled content, or are nontoxic or a less toxic alternative.
CEQ, the OMB, and the Federal Environmental Executive will oversee agency compliance. The General Services Administration is to develop recommendations on the feasibility of requiring vendors and contractors to report GHG emissions and to make available GHG mitigation efforts, as well as on using federal purchasing preferences as incentives to minimize GHG emissions.
To download a copy of the full memo, please click here.
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