Environmentalists are on President-elect Barack Obama’s side. Twenty-nine environmental and conservation groups recently provided Obama’s transition team with a 391-page plan for federal action on the economic, climate and environmental crises. Their plan coincides with many of Obama’s ideas about creating a green economy, but it’s their knowledge and expertise that will help the new administration overcome some of the challenges it faces. In a teleconference on Nov. 25, leaders from the groups spoke about the plan and the priorities that they believe must be addressed … and fast.

Gene Karpinski, President of the League of Conservation Voters, argued that “The solution to our problems is a new green economy. The last thing you want to do is delay it: It’s not just bad for the planet, it’s bad for the economy.”

While these environmentalists support Obama’s vision, they believe that at the center of his economic recovery strategy needs to be three specific goals: to cut carbon emissions, to create clean energy and to end America’s dependency on oil. In order to accomplish these goals, the group supports the cap and trade system that will put a price on carbon and limit emissions. They also support Obama’s push for clean renewable energy to cut oil dependency and create millions of paying green-collared jobs. And they agree with promoting hybrid cars and other fuel-efficient cars to create ways for Americans to travel further on a gallon of gas.

For this economic opportunity to be successful, though, the group believes certain initial actions must be taken. For example, the group states that in the first 100 days of Obama’s presidency, the new administration needs to stop any midnight policies made by the Bush administration before any more environmental damage is done. The Obama administration also needs to place strong environmental leaders with the same values of the president and the environmental community in the proper administrative positions. The group also believes that unbiased science should play a primary role in creating effective environmental policy.

The detailed plan includes many other ideas to help guide the Obama administration in environmental stewardship, including the restoration of natural resources. But after eight years of environmental neglect, the new administration will have a lot of cleaning up to do. The next four years should definitely be interesting, to say the least.

For more on Obama’s environmental policy, read Obama Addresses Fight Against Climate Change and Obama’s Changing Climate Change. Or share your thoughts or suggestions about how the Obama administration can improve the economy, climate and/or environment in the comment section below.

PHOTO BY ALEX SLOBODKIN/ISTOCKPHOTO

Now that Obama has been elected, the question everyone's asking is — what’s next? There’s a lot of curiosity about what he’ll do as president to address the related issues of clean energy and climate change.

The good news is that Obama has already pledged serious action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the use of renewable energy. But there are a lot of questions still to be answered. Just as a starting point, here are three articles I ran across this week that are asking interesting questions about climate, energy and politics.

• First, I saw this article in Time which asks: Is Obama’s Energy Plan Enough? This is eye-opening. The question is — even though Obama is prepared to take big steps on energy and climate, is his agenda ambitious enough to address the scale of the problems?

• Here’s a related question from a recent article on Gristmill, What’s the Magic Number? Ouch, this one is scary. It concerns the ultimate safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Many leading scientists argue that its 350 parts per million (ppm). Unfortunately, we’re already at 380 ppm. According to the author, Joseph Romm, it’s going to take a World War II level of effort to stabilize the climate. (More on that here. No surprise: it would involve a lot of renewable energy.) The big question here is — is the general public willing to make that kind of an effort?

• And there’s a good description of that problem on the Dot Earth blog, which wonders Is the World in Obama’s ‘Shock and Trance’ Mode? Apparently, in the recent 60 Minutes interview Obama suggested that with falling energy prices, the world was moving from “shock” mode to “trance,” or complacency. He said that while energy remains high on his agenda, already there’s not as much political support for the kind of changes that are necessary. (Here’s more from the interview.) The author of this article wonders if it’s going to take a Katrina-level climate event to wake us up from our energy trance. Eek.

But back to the good news. Not only is Obama pledging to act on climate change, he’s also leaving the door open to better solutions to our biggest problems. Obama’s new Web site asks Americans to submit their best ideas on different policy issues. So if you have something to say about climate or energy, check out the energy and environment page and let your voice be heard.

Election Day is only four days away, and if you aren’t one of the more than 15 million people to have already cast a ballot, then you’ve got just a little time left to do some research, find out where you’re supposed to vote, or get answers to any other election questions you may have. Here are a few resources to help you find the information you're looking for:

Wondering if you really are registered or how to find out? Maybe you’d like to know what other issues will be on the ballot and make sure you understand what exactly you’re voting “Yes” or “No” for. Find links to sample ballots for your precinct along with answers to these and many other election questions in Get Ready to Vote on Election Day.

Yup, you’re registered, but which polling place is yours? Find your voting place in Find out Where and When to Cast Your Vote.

Curious about those ballot initiatives you’ve been hearing about (Vote Yes on 2! Vote No on 3!)? Our sister magazine Utne Reader has found a new online resource for researching all those other questions on the ballot — you know, everything that comes after “Please fill in the oval to the left of the presidential candidate of your choice.” Check out Deciding Ballot Initiatives Before Election Day.

You can find a quick look at the presidential candidates’ positions on energy in The Presidential Candidates on Energy Issues and The Candidates Discuss Energy, and on the environment, in Where do the Presidential Candidates Stand on Environmental Issues? These articles also contain links to a number of additional resources for anyone wanting to dig deeper.

Whew! Just in case that’s not enough fun for you, Utne Reader has stumbled on some actual election entertainment. Check out Beat the Political Experts, Win Cash to find out how winning this election guessing game can get you $500.

Before you know it, the election will be over, the votes will be counted, and the 44^th President of United States will have a lot on his plate — so why not make it a plate full of local (as in, the White House front lawn) and organic goodness? Check out Mother Earth News writer Roger Doiron’s plans for the new administration in This Lawn is Your Lawn.