The truth is, we can do both. Drastically cutting our use of fossil fuels, especially coal, will simultaneously reduce a whole host of conventional pollution dangers, ranging from asthma to elevated mercury in our fish. These avoided health costs, combined with the growing affordability of fuel-efficient cars and powerful wind farms in the Midwest, mean even strong action on global warming will cost just a few cents per day for average Americans.
This is why Mr. Obama must take charge right now and totally redirect the climate debate in the Senate. The Waxman-Markey bill, narrowly approved by the House, is barely better than nothing at all. It sets weak reduction targets for greenhouse gases and gives free pollution permits to many of America's dirtiest corporations. It strips the Environmental Protection Agency of the power to regulate carbon from coal plants and creates a mind-numbing trading system of carbon derivatives.
The Senate must now make a U-turn, heading back to the president's own original climate framework unveiled last February. All polluters must pay for greenhouse gas emissions, the president said then. No exceptions. And 80 percent of the money should be rebated directly to middle- and lower-income Americans. That leaves a healthy $15 billion per year for investments in clean energy and green jobs. The Obama approach was simple, fair and - with populist appeal - built to last.
But the president didn't fight for the plan, yielding to House Democrats who caved in to the pollution lobby. How do we get back on track? First, look at health care reform again. It, not climate policy, dominates the front pages for one simple reason: It's what Mr. Obama talks about loudest. He's involved. With a similarly strong voice on global warming in the Senate, Mr. Obama can redirect national attention toward a more complete, long-term picture of health.
James Hansen, America's top climate scientist, says we have less than 10 years to reverse the rise in greenhouse gases worldwide. Less than 10 years to save the planet's health and our own. Mr. Obama must now be our Lincoln - our Churchill. The ineffectual U.S. House bill passed last month shows Congress simply cannot do it without a push from the president.
As U.S. climate policy is ironed out in coming months, American voters should beseech the White House at every legislative step: Where was Mr. Obama on key committee votes? The floor debate? How much did he do? How hard did he work?
We must ask these questions now, holding our president accountable, knowing that future Americans - their health at stake - will ask the same questions for centuries to come.
Mike Tidwell is executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network in Takoma Park and author of "Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast." His e-mail is mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org.
