Speaking in Alaska at a conference
on the Arctic, President Barack Obama spoke with force about the urgency
of addressing climate change, acknowledging the failings of his own
administration’s efforts. His speech, a far-reaching address on national
and international climate policy, was given at the Conference on Global
Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and
Resilience (GLACIER) in Anchorage before various foreign ministers
grappling with the geopolitical implications of an Arctic region on “the
leading edge of climate change.”
In a marked departure from previous years of silence on the link between
fossil-fuel use and climate disasters on American soil, Obama tied the
deaths of and catastrophic injuries to the National Forest Service
firefighters tackling the Twisp fire in Washington state to global
warming caused by “unlimited dumping of carbon pollution.”
“It’s not enough just to talk the talk,” Obama concluded. “We’ve got to
walk the walk. We’ve got work to do, and we’ve got to do it together.”
Obama’s speech came days after approving oil giant Shell’s application
to commence exploration for oil in the melting Arctic Ocean.
In this week’s address, the President spoke about his upcoming trip to
Alaska, during which he will view the effects of climate change
firsthand. Alaskans are already living with the impact of climate
change, with glaciers melting faster, and temperatures projected to rise
between six and twelve degrees by the end of the century. In his
address, the President spoke to ways in which we can address these
challenges, including the transition away from fossil fuels to more
renewable energy sources like wind and solar, an effort in which America
is already leading. And he stressed that while our economy still has to
rely on oil and gas during that transition, we should rely more on
domestic production than importing from foreign counties who do not have
the same environmental or safety standards as the United States. The
President looked forward to his upcoming trip, and promised that while
he is in office, America will lead the world to meet the threat of
climate change before it’s too late.
Hi, everybody. This Monday, I’m heading to Alaska for a three-day tour
of the state.
I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Not only because
Alaska is one of the most beautiful places in a country that’s full of
beautiful places – but because I’ll have several opportunities to meet
with everyday Alaskans about what’s going on in their lives. I’ll
travel throughout the state, meeting with Alaskans who live above the
Arctic Circle, with Alaska natives, and with folks who earn their
livelihoods through fishing and tourism. And I expect to learn a lot.
One thing I’ve learned so far is that a lot of these conversations
begin with climate change. And that’s because Alaskans are already
living with its effects. More frequent and extensive wildfires. Bigger
storm surges as sea ice melts faster. Some of the swiftest shoreline
erosion in the world – in some places, more than three feet a year.
Alaska’s glaciers are melting faster too, threatening tourism and
adding to rising seas. And if we do nothing, Alaskan temperatures are
projected to rise between six and twelve degrees by the end of the
century, changing all sorts of industries forever.
This is all real. This is happening to our fellow Americans right now.
In fact, Alaska’s governor recently told me that four villages are in
“imminent danger” and have to be relocated. Already, rising sea levels
are beginning to swallow one island community.
Speaking in Alaska at a conference
on the Arctic, President Barack Obama spoke with force about the urgency
of addressing climate change, acknowledging the failings of his own
administration’s efforts. His speech, a far-reaching address on national
and international climate policy, was given at the Conference on Global
Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and
Resilience (GLACIER) in Anchorage before various foreign ministers
grappling with the geopolitical implications of an Arctic region on “the
leading edge of climate change.”