Obama Ends His Climate Silence
On June 25, 2013, President Obama ended his climate silence with a major speech on climate change that connected the dots between carbon pollution and extreme weather disasters. Unfortunately, his plan still does not do the math on the reality of climate change.
The graph below depicts select major statements related to climate change by President Obama dating back to the 2008 presidential campaign. Please view the data page for a comprehensive list of his statements and our methodology.
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Says Climate Change Poses Real Threat To Future Generations
Says Climate Change Poses Real Threat To Future Generations
01/30/2007
"Fortunately, I think the American people have come to understand how important this issue is. I think those who still diminish the real threat that climate change poses to our children and our grandchildren, they are going to be lagging behind where the American people are at this point." "For decades, we have been warned by legions of scientists and mounds of evidence that global warming is real, that we couldn't just keep burning fossil fuels and contributing to the changing atmosphere without consequence. Yet for decades, far too many have ignored the warnings, either dismissing the science as a hoax, or believing that it was solely the concern of environmentalists looking to save polar bears and rain forests." "We know that climate change is about more than a few unseasonably mild winters or hot summers. It is about the chain of natural catastrophes and devastating weather patterns that global warming has begun to set off around the world, the frequency and intensity of which are breaking records thousands of years old. It is about the devastating consequences climate change might have on human health, access to water, and the production of our food. Still, despite all the ominous harbingers of things to come, and I am sure it has been noted already at this committee, the most recent studies that came out indicating that the polar ice caps would no longer exist in approximately 35 to 40 years, so it is no longer even an issue just for our children or our grandchildren, but potentially for us." "We don't have to stand helplessly by and accept this future. In fact, we can't afford to. Climate change may be unleashing the forces of nature, but we can't forget that while this has been accelerated by man, it can also be slowed by man." "In short, the Lieberman-McCain proposal addresses the real costs and consequences of our current patterns of energy use and establishes a framework for a market-based solution that relies on American will, ingenuity and technological expertise. It is a framework that is not only good for the environment; it is also good for business." "In short, the Lieberman-McCain proposal addresses the real costs and consequences of our current patterns of energy use and establishes a framework for a market-based solution that relies on American will, ingenuity and technological expertise. It is a framework that is not only good for the environment; it is also good for business." "Ultimately, the most important thing that we have to have is a sense of urgency on the part of the American people. Once the American people make a determination that something is important, politicians follow."
Admits Warming But Questions Consensus
Admits Warming But Questions Consensus
02/07/2007
"I have to tell you with regards to global warming that that's something, which, you're right, the scientists haven't entirely resolved, but no question about one thing, it's getting warmer, and a lot of good reasons for us to use less energy, to use it more efficiently and to develop sources here in this country that could allow us to be more independent of foreign sources."
Attacks 'Al Gore' Climate Mandates
Attacks 'Al Gore' Climate Mandates
02/23/2007
"Mark Sanford is right," Romney says, responding to a column in which Sanford said, "I believe human activity is having a measurable effect on the environment." Romney continues: "Unfortunately, some in the Republican Party are embracing the radical environmental ideas of the liberal left. As governor, I found that thoughtful environmentalism need not be anti-growth and anti-jobs. But Kyoto-style sweeping mandates, imposed unilaterally in the United States, would kill jobs, depress growth and shift manufacturing to the dirtiest developing nations. Republicans should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to embrace the ideas of Al Gore. Instead of sweeping mandates, we must use America's power of innovation to develop alternative sources of energy and new technologies that use energy more efficiently."
Promises To Address The Most Urgent Challenge Of Our Era And Phase Out Carbon-Based Economy
Promises To Address The Most Urgent Challenge Of Our Era And Phase Out Carbon-Based Economy
10/08/2007
"For a brief moment, there was a hope that maybe this conference would be different -- that maybe America would finally commit to the steps that nearly every scientist and expert believes we must take; that maybe the planet's only superpower would finally lead the world -- or at the very least, follow it -- in taking on the planet's greatest threat." "I believe that when it comes to the issue that will determine the very future of life on this Earth, we are still Earth's best hope. And when the world arrives at the doorstep of the White House to hear what America has to say about climate change, I will let them know that America is up to the challenge. That America is ready to lead again." "Washington's failure to lead on energy is the failure of a President who spent most of his time in office denying the very existence of global warming -- a President who put more faith in the spin of a science fiction writer than the science facts of real experts. It's the failure of an Administration that developed America's energy policy with a secret task force that opened the door to oil lobbyists and then shut it to every other viewpoint. It's a failure of leadership that has never called on the American people to do anything more than go shopping." "Back then global warming was just the theory of a few scientists. Now it is a fact that threatens our very existence." "Most of all, we cannot afford more of the same timid politics when the future of our planet is at stake. Global warming is not a someday problem, it is now. In a state like New Hampshire, the ski industry is facing shorter seasons and losing jobs. We are already breaking records with the intensity of our storms, the number of forest fires, the periods of drought. By 2050 famine could force more than 250 million from their homes -- famine that will increase the chances of war and strife in many of the world's weakest states. The polar ice caps are now melting faster than science had ever predicted. And if we do nothing, sea levels will rise high enough to swallow large portions of every coastal city and town. This is not the future I want for my daughters. It's not the future any of us want for our children. And if we act now and we act boldly, it doesn't have to be. But if we wait; if we let campaign promises and State of the Union pledges go unanswered for yet another year; if we let the same broken politics that's held us back for decades win one more time, we will lose another chance to save our planet. And we might not get many more. I reject that future. I would not be running for President if I didn't believe that this time could be different." "The first step in doing this is to phase out a carbon-based economy that's causing our changing climate. As President, I will set a hard cap on all carbon emissions at a level that scientists say is necessary to curb global warming -- an 80% reduction by 2050. To ensure this isn't just talk, I will also commit to interim targets toward this goal in 2020, 2030, and 2040. These reductions will start immediately, and we'll continue to follow the recommendations of top scientists to ensure that our targets are strong enough to meet the challenge we face." "And we must find a way to stop coal from polluting our atmosphere without pretending that our nation's most abundant energy source will just go away. It won't. It will also require taking steps to ensure that China's coal emissions are curbed as well. Already, some coal pollution from China's dirty plants is making its way to California. That's why we must invest in clean coal technologies that we can use at home and share with the world. Until those technologies are available, I will rely on the carbon cap and whatever tools are necessary to stop new dirty coal plants from being built in America -- including a ban on new traditional coal facilities." "Now, none of these steps will happen overnight. They will take time, they will take sacrifice, and they will take a sustained commitment from the American people. As President, I will lead this commitment. I will not be outlining these goals in my State of the Union and then walk away when they become too difficult. I will report to the American people every year on the State of our Energy Future, and let you know the progress we've made toward an 80% emissions reduction by 2050, toward replacing over a third of our oil consumption by 2030, and toward improving our energy efficiency 50% by 2030. I will also make America's energy security a fundamental tenet of our national security by preparing our military to deal with threats posed by climate change." "And most of all, I want our children and our children's children to point to this generation and this moment as the time when America found its way again. As the time when America overcame the division and the politics and the pettiness of an earlier era so that a new generation could come together and take on the most urgent challenge of this era."
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Real Leadership for a Clean Energy Future
Cites His Uncertainty To Support Action On Greenhouse Gases
Cites His Uncertainty To Support Action On Greenhouse Gases
11/13/2007
"The security implications of our addiction to oil at the same time the environmental impacts of the overuse of our carbon-based energy sources. It does appear to me, and I think to most people, that the world's getting warmer. And it also appears to me that we're contributing to that. I don't know how much we're contributing to that. I don't know what percentage it is. What percentage is caused by factors out of our control, what percentage our emitting of greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels, I don't know. I do know it's a good idea to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions."
As President-Elect, Talks About Active Climate Impacts In The United States
11/18/2008
"Few challenges facing America -- and the world -- are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear. Sea levels are rising. Coastlines are shrinking. We've seen record drought, spreading famine, and storms that are growing stronger with each passing hurricane season. Climate change and our dependence on foreign oil, if left unaddressed, will continue to weaken our economy and threaten our national security." "My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process. That will start with a federal cap and trade system. We will establish strong annual targets that set us on a course to reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them an additional 80% by 2050." "Let me also say a special word to the delegates from around the world who will gather at Poland next month: your work is vital to the planet."
President-elect Obama Promises 'New Chapter' On Climate Change
Asks Congress For Cap On Carbon Pollution
Asks Congress For Cap On Carbon Pollution
02/24/2009
"But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America."
Announces Fuel Efficiency Standards, Says Oil Has Wreaked Havoc On Climate
Announces Fuel Efficiency Standards, Says Oil Has Wreaked Havoc On Climate
05/19/2009
"Now, thank you all for coming to the White House today, and for coming together around what I consider to be a historic agreement to help America break its dependence on oil, reduce harmful pollution, and begin the transition to a clean energy economy." "For the first time in history, we have set in motion a national policy aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new trucks and cars sold in the United States of America." "We have over the course of decades slowly built an economy that runs on oil. It has given us much of what we have -- for good but also for ill. It has transformed the way we live and work, but it's also wreaked havoc on our climate. It has helped create gains in prosperity unprecedented in history, but it also places our future in jeopardy."
Remarks by the President on National Fuel Efficiency Standards
Criticizes Cap And Trade
Criticizes Cap And Trade
09/19/2009
"Candidate Obama promised not to raise taxes--'by one dime'--on people making less than 250 thousand dollars a year. The President's cap and trade program demolished that promise. The Obama team had secretly calculated that his plan would cost the average American family $1,761 a year, the equivalent to a 15% income tax hike. It kills jobs. And because it will simply move greenhouse gas emitters from America to other nations like China, it won't do a thing to affect climate change. Democrats keep talking about climate change. I think they're confusing global warming with all the heat they've been taking at town halls."
Asks Congress For 'Clean Energy' Bill
Asks Congress For 'Clean Energy' Bill
01/27/2010
"But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies. And, yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America. I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. And this year I'm eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate. I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy. I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But here's the thing -- even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy-efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future --- because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation."
In Book, Says Scientific Consensus Could Be Wrong
In Book, Says Scientific Consensus Could Be Wrong
03/02/2010
"Scientists are nearly unanimous in laying the blame for rising temperatures on greenhouse gas emissions. Of course there are also reasons for skepticism. The earth may be getting warmer, but there have been numerous times in the earth's history when temperatures have been warmer than they are now. Climate cycles with great variations in temperature predate the greenhouse gas emissions of the past three centuries, and they even predate the rise of human populations. In fact, climate change has been going on from the beginning of the world; it is certainly not a new phenomenon. Even the apparent unity among scientists is not a sure indicator of scientific fact."
Announces New Offshore Drilling While Warning Of Climate Impacts
Announces New Offshore Drilling While Warning Of Climate Impacts
03/31/2010
"And tomorrow, after decades in which we have done little to increase auto efficiency, those new standards will be finalized, which will reduce our dependence on oil while helping folks spend a little less at the pump." "In order to save energy and taxpayer dollars, my administration -- led by Secretary Chu at Energy, as well as Administrator Johnson at GSA -- is doubling the number of hybrid vehicles in the federal fleet, even as we seek to reduce the number of cars and trucks used by our government overall." "We need to make continued investments in clean coal technologies and advanced biofuels. A few weeks ago, I announced loan guarantees to break ground on America's first new nuclear facility in three decades, a project that will create thousands of jobs. And in the short term, as we transition to cleaner energy sources, we've still got to make some tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development in ways that protect communities and protect coastlines. This is not a decision that I've made lightly. It's one that Ken and I -- as well as Carol Browner, my energy advisor, and others in my administration -- looked at closely for more than a year. But the bottom line is this: Given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth and produce jobs, and keep our businesses competitive, we are going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy. So today we're announcing the expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration, but in ways that balance the need to harness domestic energy resources and the need to protect America's natural resources. Under the leadership of Secretary Salazar, we'll employ new technologies that reduce the impact of oil exploration. We'll protect areas that are vital to tourism, the environment, and our national security. And we'll be guided not by political ideology, but by scientific evidence. That's why my administration will consider potential areas for development in the mid and south Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, while studying and protecting sensitive areas in the Arctic. That's why we'll continue to support development of leased areas off the North Slope of Alaska, while protecting Alaska's Bristol Bay. There will be those who strongly disagree with this decision, including those who say we should not open any new areas to drilling. But what I want to emphasize is that this announcement is part of a broader strategy that will move us from an economy that runs on fossil fuels and foreign oil to one that relies more on homegrown fuels and clean energy." "And for the sake of our planet and our energy independence, we need to begin the transition to cleaner fuels now." "Ultimately, we need to move beyond the tired debates of the left and the right, between business leaders and environmentalists, between those who would claim drilling is a cure all and those who would claim it has no place." "For decades we've talked about the threat to future generations posed by our current system of energy --- even as we can see the mounting evidence of climate change from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf Coast." "So moving towards clean energy is about our security. It's also about our economy. And it's about the future of our planet. And what I hope is, is the policies that we've laid out -- from hybrid fleets to offshore drilling, from nuclear energy to wind energy -- underscores the seriousness with which my administration takes this challenge." " I know that we can come together to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation that's going to foster new energy -- new industries, create millions of new jobs, protect our planet, and help us become more energy independent."
Remarks by The President on Energy Security at Andrews Air Force Base
At Solar Factory, Says We Already See Climate Impacts
At Solar Factory, Says We Already See Climate Impacts
05/26/2010
"We all know the price we pay as a country as a result of how we produce and use -- and, yes, waste -- energy today. We've been talking about it for decades -- since the gas shortages of the 1970s. Our dependence on foreign oil endangers our security and our economy. Climate change poses a threat to our way of life -- in fact, we're already beginning to see its profound and costly impact."
Remarks by the President on the Economy at Solyndra HQ in Fremont, CA
Avoiding Climate Change, Asks Congress To Reduce Oil Subsidies
Avoiding Climate Change, Asks Congress To Reduce Oil Subsidies
01/25/2011
"We'll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology -- an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people." "With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. We need to get behind this innovation. And to help pay for it, I'm asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies. I don't know if -- I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own. So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's."
Says It's Important To Reduce Greenhouse Gases
Says It's Important To Reduce Greenhouse Gases
06/03/2011
"I don't speak for the scientific community, of course, but I believe the world's getting warmer. I can't prove that, but I believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that. I don't know how much our contribution is to that, because I know that there have been periods of greater heat and warmth in the past but I believe we contribute to that. And so I think it's important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and the global warming that you're seeing."
Cites His Uncertainty About Climate Change To Oppose Action
Cites His Uncertainty About Climate Change To Oppose Action
08/24/2011
"Do I think the world's getting hotter? Yeah, I don't know that, but I think that it is. I don't know if it's mostly caused by humans. ... What I'm not willing to do is spend trillions of dollars on something I don't know the answer to."
Doesn't Mention Climate Change In Address On Hurricane Irene
Doesn't Mention Climate Change In Address On Hurricane Irene
08/28/2011
"First, let me say that this is a storm that has claimed lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who've lost loved ones and those whose lives have been affected by the storm. You need to know that America will be with you in your hour of need." The impact of Hurricane Irene was intensified by oceanic warming, sea level rise, greater atmospheric vapor, and increased extreme precipitation in the Northeast connected to global warming.
Opposes Regulation Of CO2 Because He Exhales It
Opposes Regulation Of CO2 Because He Exhales It
11/18/2011
At a campaign event in Manchester, NH: "I'm all in favor of eliminating pollution. Now I know there is also a movement to say that carbon dioxide should be guided or should be managed by the Environmental Protection Agency. I disagree with that. I exhale carbon dioxide. I don't want those guys following me around with a meter to see if I'm breathing too hard."
Blames Congress For Inaction On Climate Change
Blames Congress For Inaction On Climate Change
01/24/2012
"The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change."
In Speech On Gas Prices, Avoids Climate Change And Promotes Drilling
In Speech On Gas Prices, Avoids Climate Change And Promotes Drilling
03/07/2012
In Mount Holly, NC: "A key part of our energy strategy has been to increase safe, responsible oil production here at home. Under my administration, America is producing more oil today than any time in the last eight years."
Doesn't Mention Climate Change In Response To Drought
08/11/2012
"Today, I want to talk about something that most of you know already -- it's hot outside. It's really hot. And if this feels worse than normal, that's because it is. We just found out that the month of July was the warmest month on record -- warmer than any other month since we began keeping track more than a century ago. But the heat is just half the story. We're also suffering through one of the worst droughts in over 50 years. More than a fifth of this country is experiencing what we call "extreme" or "exceptional" drought -- with states like Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas getting hit harder than most."
Calls Pollution Limits A War On Coal
08/14/2012
"We have 250 years of coal. Why in the heck wouldn't we use it? And so I want to take advantage of those energy resources. Of course I like all of those sources of energy. You have probably heard the president say he`s for all of the above. And I wondered what he meant, because I see how he's been waging war on coal. And I wondered how could he possibly say that? Then it came to me. He`s for all the sources of energy that come from above the ground, none of those that come from below the ground, like oil and coal and gas. I'm for all of the above, whether it comes above the ground or below the ground. We're going to take advantage of our energy resources to save your jobs, to create more jobs. And, by the way, when we use our plentiful energy resources, our inexpensive carbon-based energy resources, you're going to see manufacturing come back to America. It's not just in this community that jobs will be grown and created. It will be in other parts of our nation as well. We're going to bring jobs back in part by that first step I'm going to take, which is to take advantage of our energy resources."
Mocks Obama's Pledge To Fight Climate Change
Mocks Obama's Pledge To Fight Climate Change
08/30/2012
"President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. MY promise...is to help you and your family." "His assault on coal and gas and oil will send energy and manufacturing jobs to China." "First, by 2020, North America will be energy independent by taking full advantage of our oil and coal and gas and nuclear and renewables."
Says Climate Change Is Not A Hoax, Promotes Century Of Drilling
Says Climate Change Is Not A Hoax, Promotes Century Of Drilling
09/06/2012
"We've opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration in the last three years, and we'll open more. But unlike my opponent, I will not let oil companies write this country's energy plan or endanger our coastlines or collect another $4 billion in corporate welfare from our taxpayers. We're offering a better path. We're offering a better path where we -- a future where we keep investing in wind and solar and clean coal, where farmers and scientists harness new biofuels to power our cars and trucks, where construction workers build homes and factories that waste less energy, where we develop a hundred-year supply of natural gas that's right beneath our feet. If you choose this path, we can cut our oil imports in half by 2020 and support more than 600,000 new jobs in natural gas alone. And yes, my plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet, because climate change is not a hoax. More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke. They are a threat to our children's future."
Lies About Green Energy In First Debate
Lies About Green Energy In First Debate
10/03/2012
"One, get us energy independent, North American energy independent. That creates about 4 million jobs." (This figure is fabricated and ignores the costs of unlimited drilling.) "Energy is critical, and the president pointed out correctly that production of oil and gas in the U.S. is up. But not due to his policies. In spite of his policies. Mr. President, all of the increase in natural gas and oil has happened on private land, not on government land. On government land, your administration has cut the number of permits and licenses in half." (These claims are false.) "If I'm president, I'll double them, and also get the -- the oil from offshore and Alaska. And I'll bring that pipeline in from Canada. And, by the way, I like coal. I'm going to make sure we can continue to burn clean coal. People in the coal industry feel like it's getting crushed by your policies." (The coal industry wants to pollute for free and blame Obama instead of free-market competition.) "I want to get America and North America energy independent so we can create those jobs." “You put $90 billion into -- into green jobs. And I -- look, I'm all in favor of green energy. $90 billion, that would have -- that would have hired 2 million teachers. $90 billion. And these businesses, many of them have gone out of business, I think about half of them, of the ones have been invested in have gone out of business.” (Romney is "not even within hailing distance of the truth.") "First of all, the Department of Energy has said the tax break for oil companies is $2.8 billion a year. And it's actually an accounting treatment, as you know, that's been in place for a hundred years." "And in one year, you provided $90 billion in breaks to the green energy world. Now, I like green energy as well, but that's about 50 years' worth of what oil and gas receives. And you say Exxon and Mobil. Actually, this $2.8 billion goes largely to small companies, to drilling operators and so forth." Romney is dissembling on the value of the oil industry's subsidies, even ignoring the unpriced cost of carbon pollution.) "But, you know, if we get that tax rate from 35 percent down to 25 percent, why that $2.8 billion is on the table. Of course it's on the table. That's probably not going to survive you get that rate down to 25 percent." "But don't forget, you put $90 billion, like 50 years' worth of breaks, into -- into solar and wind, to Solyndra and Fisker and Tester and Ener1. I mean, I had a friend who said you don't just pick the winners and losers, you pick the losers, all right? So this -- this is not -- this is not the kind of policy you want to have if you want to get America energy secure." (This is a false attack on innovative entrepreneurship.)
No Mention Of Climate In First Debate
No Mention Of Climate In First Debate
10/03/2012
"On energy, Governor Romney and I, we both agree that we've got to boost American energy production, and oil and natural gas production are higher than they've been in years. But I also believe that we've got to look at the energy sources of the future, like wind and solar and biofuels, and make those investments." "The oil industry gets $4 billion a year in corporate welfare. Basically, they get deductions that those small businesses that Governor Romney refers to, they don't get. Now, does anybody think that ExxonMobil needs some extra money, when they're making money every time you go to the pump? Why wouldn't we want to eliminate that?"
Questions Influence Of Climate Change On Sandy
Questions Influence Of Climate Change On Sandy
11/14/2012
“As you know, Mark, we can’t attribute any particular weather event to climate change. What we do know is the temperature around the globe is increasing faster than was predicted even 10 years ago. We do know that the Arctic ice cap is melting faster than was predicted even five years ago. We do know that there have been an extraordinarily large number of severe weather events here in North America, but also around the globe. And I am a firm believer that climate change is real, that it is impacted by human behavior and carbon emissions. And as a consequence, I think we’ve got an obligation to future generations to do something about it.”
Promises To 'Respond To The Threat Of Climate Change'
Promises To 'Respond To The Threat Of Climate Change'
01/21/2013
"We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise. That’s how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared."
Directs EPA To Limit Pollution From Power Plants
Directs EPA To Limit Pollution From Power Plants
06/25/2013
"Six years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases are pollutants covered by that same Clean Air Act. And they required the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, to determine whether they’re a threat to our health and welfare. In 2009, the EPA determined that they are a threat to both our health and our welfare in many different ways -- from dirtier air to more common heat waves -- and, therefore, subject to regulation. Today, about 40 percent of America’s carbon pollution comes from our power plants. But here’s the thing: Right now, there are no federal limits to the amount of carbon pollution that those plants can pump into our air. None. Zero. We limit the amount of toxic chemicals like mercury and sulfur and arsenic in our air or our water, but power plants can still dump unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into the air for free. That’s not right, that’s not safe, and it needs to stop. So today, for the sake of our children, and the health and safety of all Americans, I’m directing the Environmental Protection Agency to put an end to the limitless dumping of carbon pollution from our power plants, and complete new pollution standards for both new and existing power plants. I’m also directing the EPA to develop these standards in an open and transparent way, to provide flexibility to different states with different needs, and build on the leadership that many states, and cities, and companies have already shown. In fact, many power companies have already begun modernizing their plants, and creating new jobs in the process. Others have shifted to burning cleaner natural gas instead of dirtier fuel sources. Nearly a dozen states have already implemented or are implementing their own market-based programs to reduce carbon pollution. More than 25 have set energy efficiency targets. More than 35 have set renewable energy targets. Over 1,000 mayors have signed agreements to cut carbon pollution. So the idea of setting higher pollution standards for our power plants is not new. It’s just time for Washington to catch up with the rest of the country. And that's what we intend to do."
Climate Silence on Sandy Anniversary
Climate Silence on Sandy Anniversary
10/29/2013
President Obama's full statement: ""One year ago, Hurricane Sandy's landfall devastated communities up and down the East Coast -- a tragedy that demanded massive rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. Today, we remember our fellow Americans who lost their lives to that storm, and we comfort the families who grieve them still. And while there are still homes to rebuild and businesses to reopen, the last year has also served as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the American people. We've seen first responders act with heroism, strangers lend a helping hand, and entire communities come together to heal. There's more work to do, but that's the spirit with which we'll continue to do it for our fellow Americans who still need a hand. Over the past year, my Administration has fought for these communities throughout the response, and the federal government will remain by their side as our fellow citizens rebuild. We've provided billions of dollars of assistance to hundreds of thousands of people and small business owners through direct aid, grants, and loans. We've helped thousands of families stay in their homes, communities cut through red tape and bureaucracy to receive the help they need, and worked with state and local officials to open 97% of public beaches before Memorial Day, sending a strong message to the country that the shore was open for business. Through a federal commitment to a long-term rebuilding effort, our roads, bridges, hospitals and businesses are coming back stronger than before. That's who we are as Americans -- we take care of our own. We leave nobody behind. And as long as our fellow Americans continue to travel the long and sometimes difficult road to recovery, their country will stay with them every step of the way."
Calls For Immediate Action
Calls For Immediate Action
05/09/2014
So together, the commitments we’re announcing today prove that there are cost-effective ways to tackle climate change and create jobs at the same time. So often, when we hear about how we’re going to deal with this really serious issue, people say we can’t afford to do it; it won’t be good for the economy. It will be good for the economy long term -- and if we don’t, that will be bad for the economy. Rising sea levels, drought, more wildfires, more severe storms -- those are bad for the economy. So we can’t afford to wait. And there’s no reason why we can’t even go further than we are so far by working with states and utilities, and other organizations to change the way we power our economy. Climate change is real and we have to act now. Earlier this week, I issued -- or we issued a report that was years in the making called the National Climate Assessment. Hundreds of scientists, experts and businesses, not-for-profits, local communities all contributed over the course of four years. What they found was unequivocally that climate change is not some far-off problem in the future. It’s happening now. It’s causing hardship now. It’s affecting every sector of our economy and our society -- more severe floods, more violent wildfires. It’s already costing cities and states and families and businesses money. Here in California, you’ve seen these effects firsthand. You know what’s happening. And increasingly, more and more Americans do -- including, by the way, many Republicans outside of Washington. So unfortunately, inside of Washington we’ve still got some climate deniers who shout loud, but they’re wasting everybody’s time on a settled debate. Climate change is a fact. And while we know the shift to clean energy won’t happen overnight, we’ve got to make some tough choices along the way. And we know that if we do, it’s going to save us ultimately money and create jobs over the long term. That's what Walmart understands, and Walmart is pretty good at counting its pennies. So that’s why this fight is so important. That’s why the sooner we work together to adapt the economy to this reality of climate change, the more likely it is that we do right by our kids and leave a more stable world. And ultimately that's what motivates a whole lot of us.
Remarks by the President on American Energy at a Walmart in Mountain View, CA
Calls Climate Denial "Stupid"
Calls Climate Denial "Stupid"
04/25/2015
THE PRESIDENT: But we do need to stay focused on some big challenges, like climate change. LUTHER: Hey, listen, ya’ll, if you haven’t noticed, California is bone dry. It looks like a trailer for the new “Mad Max” movie up in there. Ya’ll think that Bradley Cooper came here because he wants to talk to Chuck Todd? He needed a glass of water. Come on! THE PRESIDENT: The science is clear. Nine of the ten hottest years ever came in the last decade. LUTHER: Now, I’m not a scientist, but I do know how to count to 10. THE PRESIDENT: Rising seas, more violent storms. LUTHER: We’ve got mosquitos. Sweaty people on the train, stinking it up. It’s just nasty. THE PRESIDENT: I mean, look at what’s happening right now. Every serious scientist says we need to act. The Pentagon says it’s a national security risk. Miami floods on a sunny day, and instead of doing anything about it, we’ve got elected officials throwing snowballs in the Senate! LUTHER: Okay, Mr. President. Okay, I think they’ve got it, bro. THE PRESIDENT: It is crazy! What about our kids? What kind of stupid, shortsighted, irresponsible bull -- LUTHER: Wow! Hey! THE PRESIDENT: What?! LUTHER: All due respect, sir. You don’t need an anger translator. You need counseling. (Laughter.) So I’m out of here, man. I ain’t trying to get into all this. THE PRESIDENT: Go. LUTHER: He crazy.
Ice Melt
Sept. 20, 2007
The National Snow and Ice Data Center announces sea ice extent has reached a new record minimum, shattering the previous record low by 23 percent Source
Fire
Oct. 24, 2007
The largest evacuation in California history is prompted by massive wildfires. Governor Schwarzenegger and President Bush declare states of emergency, and over $1 billion are spent fighting wildfires spanning from Santa Barbara County to the US-Mexico Border Source
Heat Wave
Dec. 31, 2007
In early 2008, NASA declares 2007 to be the warmest year on record. According to NASA, the eight warmest years in the temperature record have all occurred since 1998, and the 14 warmest years in the record have all occurred since 1990. Source
Waves
June 1, 2008
Flood waters along the Mississippi River reach record levels, devastating communities throughout the midwest. The worst hit is Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with damages far exceeding the toll from huge floods in 1993 Source
Hurricane
Aug. 20, 2008
Tropical Storm Fay makes four separate landfalls in Florida, a first for a storm in the US. Thousands of homes are destroyed Source
Hurricane
Sept. 11, 2008
Hurricane Ike devastates Texas and Florida, becoming the second costliest hurricane in American history Source
Thunder Storm
May 8, 2009
Extreme winds, heavy rain, devastating thunderstorms, and giant hail strike the midwest. Followed by a slew of tornadoes, the remarkable event is later categorized as an unprecedented "super de recho" Source
Thunder Storm
Aug. 4, 2009
Single hour rainfall records are shattered in Louisville, causing huge flash floods that envelop roads and stop commuters Source
Waves
Sept. 24, 2009
Floods sweep through the southeast, hitting Atlanta, Georgia particularly hard. Flooding damage in Atlanta is analyzed by scientists is so severe, the odds of it occurring are deemed 1 in 500 year events Source
Snow Storm
Dec. 20, 2009
Dubbed "snowmageddon," 20 inches of snow blanket the southeast, stopping flights out of DC's Reagan National Airport in the days preceding Christmas Source
Waves
May 6, 2010
The Grand Ole Opry and downtown Nashville are under several feet of water as massive floods strike Tennessee. The floods cause 30 deaths, and leave a third of the state declared federal disaster area. The Arms Corps of Engineers declare the events "1000 year floods." Source
Heat Wave
June 30, 2010
NOAA's State of the Climate Report finds June 2010 to be the warmest month on record, surpassing June 2005 Source
Heat Wave
Sept. 28, 2010
The warmest year on record continues on pace, with excruciating 113 degree heat in late September in downtown Los Angeles Source
Heat Wave
Dec. 31, 2010
"According to NOAA scientists, 2010 tied with 2005 as the warmest year of the global surface temperature record, beginning in 1880. This was the 34th consecutive year with global temperatures above the 20th century average. For the contiguous United States alone, the 2010 average annual temperature was above normal, resulting in the 23rd warmest year on record." Source
Waves
May 6, 2011
Heavy rainfall combined with snowpack melt leads to $4 billion in flood damages along the Mississippi River. Hardest hit is Memphis, TN, where water levels of 48 feet approach alltime records Source
Waves
June 2, 2011
"An estimated 11,000 people were forced to evacuate Minot, N.D., due to the record high water level of the Souris River, where 4,000 homes were flooded. Numerous levees were breached along the Missouri River, which flooded thousands of acres of farmland. Estimated losses exceed $2 billion." Source
Hurricane
Aug. 20, 2011
New York City braces for devastation as Hurricane Irene makes its final landfall on the eastern coast. Flooding ensues, isolating large portions of the east coast, especially Vermont. From North Carolina to Vermont, 5 deaths and more than $7.5 billion in damages follow the largest Hurricane since Ike. Source
Heat Wave
March 7, 2012
Remarkably un-winterlike conditions sweep across the US. From DC to New York, spring arrives early: February and March temperatures bounce around in the 80s, and residents find themselves walking around in t-shirts. The winter turns out to be the fourth warmest on record in the US. Source
Fire
June 27, 2012
One of the worst wildfires in Colorado history forces over 32,000 residents to evacuate their homes Source
Drought
July 11, 2012
Spanning across 29 states, a devastating drought prompts the US Department of Agriculture to declare the largest federal disaster area in American history Source
Ice Melt
Aug. 28, 2012
A full two weeks before the end of Arctic melting season, the Arctic sets a new record low for sea ice extent, easily surpassing the record set in 2007 Source
Hurricane
Oct. 30, 2012
Superstorm Sandy was deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, as well as the second-costliest hurricane in United States history. Source
Waves
Aug. 11, 2016
Catastrophic flooding in Lousiana from a "no-name" storm that dumped three times as much rain as Hurricane Katrina Source