The climate in the White House has changed.

John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, called on all industrialized nations to immediately and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Holdren also calls for a focus on preparation for the effects of current and future climate change by the Obama Administration.

“The question is, ‘Can we stop short of a completely unmanageable degree of climate change?’” said Holdren.

On a good day, the Bush administration gave low priority to climate change issues. Holdren thinks preparing for inevitable global climate change should be at the center of White House policy. Holdren’s appointment and agenda represent a dramatic break from the energy and environmental perspectives and policies of the last 8 years.

“This president is committed to science and technology and their role in addressing our great challenges.He wanted someone to speak out on issues,” said Holdren.

Where the Bush administration often discounted or challenged environmentally focused policies or climate change evidence, Holdren is the voice of a White House that is already basing economic policy decisions on it. The Obama administration is putting close to $100 billion toward developing and utilizing innovative science and technology. The money is aimed to focus on energy and environmental issues.

Holdren has a long history of combining the political with the environmental. He cofounded the Energy Resources Group at UC Berkeley in 1973, a department that created dynamic academic programs in engineering, environmental science, economics and political science. After moving to Harvard in 1996, he became a leader with the National Commission on Energy Policy and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

With that background and the support of the President, Holdren is sure to bring greenhouse gas consciousness to the White House.