Obama Cites Global Warming, Renewable Energy as Top Priorities

We already knew that President elect Barack Obama is serious about tackling climate change and switching this country to renewable energy as quickly as possible. Tuesday, in a surprise video appearance at an international conference on climate change convened by California Gov. Schwarzennegger, Obama reconfirmed his dedication to both issues.

Obama addressed the audience in taped remarks repeating his campaign promises to reduce greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050, and invest $150 billion in new energy-saving technologies. Watch the video below:

From The New York Times:

“Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all,” Mr. Obama said. “Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response.”

“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,” Mr. Obama said.

State officials and environmental advocates were cheered that Mr. Obama choose to address climate change as only the second major policy area he has discussed as president-elect. In a press conference and television interview last week he said that his first priority as president will be to revitalize the economy.

This is great news for people who feared that the need to focus on the economy would, by necessity, put global warming and renewable energy on the back burner. Those of us in favor of the Green Collar Economy idea, however, are well aware that finding a solution to these three issues means addressing all at once. Now, we’re just waiting for Obama to offer a high-level position in his administration to Van Jones,

Link [The New York Times]

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