Obama and Hollande Call for Climate Action

The French and American Presidents have called for an ambitious global climate agreement. The French President, Francois Hollande has joined forced with US President Barack Obama to ask the world to increase clean energy, create jobs and help developing countries transition to a low carbon economy.

President Hollande arrived in the US on Monday, the same day that the leaders issued an op-ed that was published in the Washington Post and Le Monde newspapers.

The Paradox of President Obama's All of the Above Energy Strategy

Staying within prescribed climate change limits will be difficult under Obama’s all-of-the-above strategy. Although Obama may be the greenest President in American history he is not doing enough to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. In his State of the Union address, he did talk about the veracity of climate change and the need to further reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions, however his ongoing support for fossil fuel extraction is dangerous and imperils hopes that we can tackle the issue of climate change before we reach irreversible tipping points.

The President made many laudable points during his address including his desire to increase protections for air, water, land and American communities. He quite correctly explained that, “we have to act with more urgency because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods.”

The President touted the growth of solar power saying: “[W]e’re becoming a global leader in solar too. Every four minutes another American home or business goes solar, every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced.”

President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address: Summary and Green Highlights

President Obama's 2014 state of the union address did reference carbon pollution and the need for more action on climate change, but environmental concerns did not receive the attention that some had hoped for.

The President's focus was on continuing to grow the nations economy and provide more jobs. He citing the "more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years." Much of his speech addressed the issue of education. He boasted that "America's graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades." The President further elaborated his focus on education stating that America needs to focus on building "tomorrows workforce." He talked about innovative private sector funding for pre k, and making it easier for kids to afford college. He also explained that he has directed Vice President Biden to work on new training and apprenticeship programs.

Video - Hope for 2014: What Obama is Doing to Combat Climate Change

President Obama's Climate Change Strategy announced in the summer of 2013, gives us reason to hope that the world's wealthiest and most influential nation will assume a leadership role in efforts to combat climate change.

Obama Signs a Climate Change Resilience Executive Order

On the morning of Friday November 1, 2013, President Obama signed an executive order (EO) designed to prepare the country for climate-related disasters. Climate change adaptation cannot wait for the Congress, so the President is using his executive privileges to do what they won't.

This is a tangible follow-up to his Climate Action Plan which the President unveiled in June. Obama has clearly grown weary of Republican obstructionism in Congress. Their knee jerk opposition to almost anything that he or the Democrats propose is making a farcical comedy of America's democracy (particularly anything to do wilth climate change).

Breaking News - Keystone XL Pipeline on the Ropes: Conflict of Interest Revealed in the State's EIS

On Friday August 2nd, the State Department made a statement that may signal the end of the Keystone XL pipeline. The State Department is now questioning the veracity of the findings of a favorable review of the Keystone XL completed last year. According to diverse sources the consultant (Environmental Resources Management or ERM) that produced the report has been paid by TransCanada, the pipeline developer. ERM is also reported to have close ties with the American Petroleum Institute, an oil industry lobby with financial ties to TransCanada.

The proposed Keystone XL would ferry diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands to US Gulf Coast refineries. Because the pipeline crosses international borders, the project requires State Department approval. Questions about the impartiality of the State Department environmental impact statement (EIS) will likely delay the final verdict on the pipeline and may very well kill it altogether.

Obama Says the Number of Keystone XL Jobs are "Negligible"

President Obama gave further indications that the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline may not win his support. On Tuesday July 30, Obama said for the second time in a week that as far as jobs are concerned the Keystone project is not worth much.

As reported in The Hill, the President told attendees at Amazon.com’s Chattanooga, Tenn., distribution facility, “Putting all your eggs in the basket of an oil pipeline that may only create about 50 permanent jobs, and wasting the country’s time by taking something like 40 meaningless votes to repeal ObamaCare isn’t a jobs plan.” 

Combat Climate Change: 3 Ways to Support President Obama

President Obama has announced the biggest steps to fight climate change that any president has ever taken. He's not waiting around for climate deniers in Congress who won't even acknowledge the scientific fact of climate change to face reality in order to act—he's taking bold steps forward.

Here are three things you can do to get started today: 

Climate Leaders Training Program

The Climate Reality Leadership Corps. trains leaders to speak out about the facts on global warming. This program is brought to you by The Climate Reality Project, which has already trained thousands of people in hundreds of different countries around the world. Now is the time to get involved to help create a viable and sustainable future.

Maggie L. Fox, President and CEO of The Climate Reality Project shared President Obama's historic words at his Georgetown university speech on June 25th. As the President indicated solving the climate crisis is "not just a job for politicians. So I'm going to need all of you to educate your classmates, your colleagues, your parents, and your friends. Tell them what's at stake... Speak up for the facts. Broaden the circle of those who are willing to stand up for our future."

Here are some of the highlights of the upcoming Climate Reality Leadership Corps. program in Chicago:

Canadian Environment Minister: Fossil Awards are "Worn with Honour"

Canada has been awarded the “Fossil of the Year” award for its inaction on climate change for five consecutive years. However, Environment Minister Peter Kent does not seem to care, quite the contrary he claims to be proud of the dubious distinction, saying that saying that “some of those awards are worn with honour.”

The award, which is meant to be a badge of shame, was given to Canada at the 2011 UN climate change conference in Durban, South Africa. In 2012, it shared the award with New Zealand.

Reaction to President Obama's Historic Georgetown University Speech

Despite what some detractors may say, the speech delivered by President Obama at Georgetown University will reverberate across America and around the world.  June 25th, 2013 will be remembered as the day America committed itself to act domestically and lead globally on climate change.

It is not overstating the case to say the President’s speech signals an end to the debate on climate change and the beginning of a consorted effort to reign in greenhouse gas emissions.

The President’s ambitious speech has far reaching implications that involve both mitigation and adaptation. “As a president, as a father and as an American, I’m here to say we need to act,” Obama said.

Video - President Obama's Historic Georgetown University Speech on June 25th 2013

"The decisions we make now and in the years ahead will have a profound impact on the world that all of you inherit." These were the opening words of President Barack Obama's Historic speech at Georgetown University on June 25th 2013. Here is the full speech announcing the President's plan to tackle climate change, which includes new regulations on power plants, transportation, homes and buildings. Support for renewable energy and communities preparing for climate change impacts.

Infographic - President Obama's Climate Action Plan

The President's Climate Action Plan (Full Document)

Here is the Table of Contents to the full document of US President Barack Obama's Climate Action Plan announced in a June 25th 2013 speech at Georgetown University. This historic document represents the first time ever an American President has presented such a detailed strategy to combat climate change.

With the goal of cutting US emissions President Obama has presented an approach that has important implications for energy, transporation, buildings and efficiency.

The Plan also seeks to engage a science based understanding to prepare communities, the economy and resources for the impacts of climate change.

Finally Obama's strategy includes initiatives to lead the wider world in efforts to combat climate change.

Full Transcript of President Obama's Georgetown University Speech on June 25th 2013

Here is the full transcript of President Barack Obama's historic speech at Georgetown University (June 25, 2013)  announcing his new national climate strategy:

On Christmas Eve, 1968, the astronauts of Apollo 8 did a live broadcast from lunar orbit. So Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, William Anders -- the first humans to orbit the moon -- described what they saw, and they read Scripture from the Book of Genesis to the rest of us back here. And later that night, they took a photo that would change the way we see and think about our world.

Thank President Obama for His Bold Leadership on Climate Change

The climate leadership of President Obama warrents our thanks and our praise. The historic significance of his June 25, 2013 Georgetown University address cannot be overstated. Despite Republican obstructionism, the President has taken a bold step forward leading America and the world in the battle against climate change.

The Climate Reality Project is amongst those who are applauding President Obama's leadership in providing a plan to mitigate the major contributing factors to climate change. They have organized a campaign to Thank the President for putting America on the road to cutting carbon pollution.

Obama's Speech Signals the End of the Debate on Climate Change and the Dawn of Consorted Action

June 25th, 2013 will be remembered by history as the day America committed itself to act domestically and lead globally on climate change. On this day the President delivered an unprecedented speech at Georgetown University.

The President unveiled his new climate change strategy which involves mitigation, adaptation and building resilience. Specifically the President has vowed to reduce emissions from exisiting coal-fired power plants and transportation, increase renewable energy, enhance efficiency and prepare communities for the impacts of climate change.

Climate change impacts will now be factored into every governmental decision. This will have far reaching implications for the conduct of the most powerful government on earth. It will impact the government's procurement policies, new infrastructure, land and water management, and resource development.

Perhaps most importantly it is a signal to the wider world that the debate on climate change is over and the time for real consorted action has begun.

Obama has pledged to work with major polluting countries like China and India to curb emissions which builds on a recent agreement with China to phase out hydrofluorocarbons.

It is with good reason that Al Gore called it "the best Presidential address on climate change ever."

The President`s speech on June 25, 2013 is historic. This is the day America not only enjoined the struggle against climate change but assumed the leadership role.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Obama Reigning in Emissions from Existing Coal Power Plants, Transportation and Homes

On June 25th 2013, US President Barack Obama unveiled his national climate change mitigation strategy which includes mandated emissions reduction from coal plants and transportation and people's homes.

The federal government's mitigation strategy aims to reduce emissions of three major greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (Co2), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and methane (CH4).

One of the chief provisions of the plan involves reducing allowable emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. The White House indicated that 8 billion dollars will be set aside in loan guarantees to help power plants reduce their emissions.

Obama's National Climate Adaptation Strategy

Prior to the announcement of the national climate mitigation strategy on June 25th, the Obama administration launched its National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants (NFWP) Climate Adaptation Strategy. The national climate change adaptation strategy was released on March 26th, three months ahead of the mitigation strategy. It focuses on resiliency in the face of climate change. The NFWP strategy “provides a unified approach – reflecting shared principles and science-based practices – for reducing the negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, and the natural system upon which they depend.”

The strategy took two years and employs the expertise at all levels of government (federal, state, and tribal) as well as non-profit sector organizations and the American public, As stated by the NFWP team, “Fish, wildlife, and plants provide jobs, food, clean water, storm protection, health benefits and many other important ecosystem services that support people, communities and economies across the nation. Action is needed now to help safeguard these valuable natural resources and the communities that depend on them in a changing climate.”