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February

March 3, 2008

Increase Production and Availability of Alternative Low-Carbon Fuels

Reducing our nation’s dependence on carbon-based fossil fuels requires a dramatic increase in the production and use of bio-based fuels including E85 (85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline) and a swift shift to even cleaner cellulosic biofuels and electricity.
February 29, 2008

Eliminate Federal Tax Breaks and Subsidies for Oil and Gas

The federal government currently invests billions of dollars annually in tax breaks and other subsidies for oil and gas, including royalty relief, research and development subsidies, and “accounting gimmicks”.
February 28, 2008

Idea of the Day: Use Carbon Capture-and-Storage Systems to Capture and Bury the Carbon Emissions from Burning Coal

Coal accounts for 50 percent of U.S. electricity generation, and that number is projected to rise slightly by 2030, according to the EIA. Even assuming a substantial reduction in demand owing to new policies, coal is likely to play an important part in our energy mix for decades to come.
February 27, 2008

Adopt an Emission Performance Standard for New Coal-Fired Power Plants to Accelerate Adoption of Carbon Capture and Sequestration

The adoption of an emission performance standard for all new coalfired electricity plants is the best policy tool to achieve accelerated adoption of CCS technologies. This emission performance standard would require, in effect, that new coal capacity be built to meet a CO2 emissions standard achievable with the best available CCS technology.
February 26, 2008

Form an Energy Innovation Council

We should double the size of the federal energy RD&D budget and create a new interagency group, the Energy Innovation Council, or EIC, that will be responsible for developing a multi-year National Energy RD&D Strategy for the United States to create a fresh approach to energy RD&D.
February 22, 2008

Create a Contact Group with India, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghan Governments

The United States should support the creation of a contact group among India, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to build trust and address areas of shared concerns, including nuclear weapons, trade, and terrorism. The U.S. effort might involve offering behind the scenes, rather than visible support.
February 21, 2008

Shift Aid to Pakistan from Conventional Military Accounts to Counterterrorism and Democracy Promotion

The bulk of U.S. aid to Pakistan has gone to military expenditures. The United States should steer military aid away from conventional military expenditures such as advanced combat aircraft, which is geared toward a possible confrontation with India, and toward counterterrorism assistance. Benefits for Pakistan must be paired with firm demands that Pakistan support the United States by cracking down on militants and Al Qaeda and making democratic reforms.
February 20, 2008

Pressure the Pakistan Government to Better Integrate Federally Administered Tribal Areas

The region’s economic and political isolation has contributed to the extremism and militancy of this area. The Taliban, other Afghan insurgents, Al Qaeda, and other foreign extremists—mainly Chechens and Uzbeks—have found a friendly territory to establish and maintain a safe haven following their flight from Afghanistan in 2001.
February 19, 2008

Allocate More Aid to Pakistan to Education and Youth

Too much attention and resources have been focused on the military in Pakistan. While military assistance should be maintained, the focus of U.S. support must be expanded to the people of Pakistan by assisting in the development of democratic institutions and economic and humanitarian assistance.
February 15, 2008

Work to Strengthen Afghan Laws Related to Violence Against Women

Women continue to suffer under the general lawlessness. While the Afghan government is publicly committed to promoting the advancement of women, women still experience domestic violence, forced marriages, and roadblocks to education and economic opportunities. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs registered close to 2,000 incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in 2006. Fifty-seven percent of girls are married before the legal age of 16.
February 14, 2008

Assist in the Development of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy

The international community should support the Afghan government in developing a national anti-corruption strategy. The Afghanistan National Development Strategy, which is scheduled for release in March 2008, is expected to include this strategy. This must include concrete anti-corruption steps for the Afghan government to take, such as requiring that government officials declare their assets publicly. The Afghan government should establish a high-level committee to implement this strategy and coordinate efforts across the Afghan government.
February 13, 2008

Place the Afghan Government at the Center of International Efforts

Whether the United States, NATO, or the U.N. are working on counternarcotics policy, counterterrorism efforts, or reconstruction, policymakers should always consult with the Afghan government. This will empower them in the long-term.
February 12, 2008

Build a Judicial Sector in Afghanistan to Help Restore the Rule of Law

One of the greatest failures in Afghanistan’s governance is the absence of rule of law, a crucial issue for the Afghan government’s legitimacy. Basic lawlessness pervades the country, and Afghanistan lacks judges, lawyers, and a competent police force.