Obama Promises Climate Change Leadership At Summit (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON — Calling climate change an urgent challenge, President-elect Barack Obama promised Tuesday that Washington would take a leading role in combating it in the United States and throughout the world.

"My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change," Obama said in a video message to governors and others attending a Los Angeles summit on the issue.

In the roughly four-minute message, Obama reiterated his support for a cap-and-trade system approach to cutting green house gases. He would establish annual targets to reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them another 80 percent by 2050. Obama also promoted anew his proposal to invest $15 billion each year to support private sector efforts toward clean energy.

President Bush has been criticized for failing to do enough to combat climate change and Obama has promised quick action to address the issue. Leaders in the Democratic-controlled Congress have indicated that they aren't likely to act until 2010 on a bill to limit the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming. But Obama could begin to tackle global warming without Congress through administrative actions.

In his remarks, Obama criticized Washington for failing to lead on the issue in the past.

Said Obama: "I promise you this: When I am president, any governor who's willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House. Any company that's willing to invest in clean energy will have an ally in Washington. And any nation that's willing to join the cause of combating climate change will have an ally in the United States of America."

Scientists, environmentalists and government and industry officials were attending the two-day Governors' Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, held ahead of a U.N. gathering in Poland next month.

Obama said he won't attend that conference but that he has asked Congress members who will to report back to him. "Once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations, and help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change," Obama said.

WATCH:

Comments

[rhjames]

At least when Bush went to war he had an enemy. Fighting climate change when the cause has not yet been confirmed is like going to war but picking the wrong country. What if temperatures continue their current downward trend for another 20 years? It won't worry Obama or the IPCC. They will have had their hour of glory, while spending all our money in the wrong places. Before plunging blindly forward, what about asking for some scientific evidence to back up the CO2 hypothesis.

[MMJones]

Every day is like Christmas. After years of apathy and/or actions that are the antithesis of promoting positive action or change in any realm, Obama is clearly stating intentions that the world welcomes. We have reason to be grateful for O administration in charge.

It's not going to be overnight and it isn't going to come easily. But this IS change I can believe in.

[canucklivinginUSA]

By the way, this is the first time that I hear about that summit. This is why I hate the media. They are more interested about fanning the flames of anger within the Liberal ranks instead of educating us about things that matter

[ObjectiveRealist]

Thank YOU, Mr. President. This issue is the main reason I spent every free weekend from April to the end of October walking door-to-door campaigning for you! I should stop being surprised by now, but it still replenishes my hope to see you silently dismissing so much tabloid speculation, and amidst it all, declaring your agenda with a clarity that too many of your peers leave behind, on the campaign trail.

[
Said Obama: "I promise you this: When I am president, any governor who's willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House. Any company that's willing to invest in clean energy will have an ally in Washington. And any nation that's willing to join the cause of combating climate change will have an ally in the United States of America."
]

I believe I can count on that.

[RadCenter]

I keep expecting to wake up and find that this was all a dream. It's almost too good to be true that our country has finally entered the 21st century when it comes to climate policy!

[special muppet]

"President Bush has been criticized for failing to do enough to combat climate change..."

Eh? He's done every thing in his power to stop any progress on this. He's doctored the science, gagged scientists, falsified reports, tried to stop states passing emissions legislation, he's taken the side of big oil and sent neocon ambassadors to the UN to try to stop meaningful discussion...

No one has done more to prevent action being taken.

Let's not be kind to Bush, he's been a truly horrible president.

[plzchuteme]

Here, here!
Before we rejoice that change is here, remember that Bush is still hard at work to make things as difficult as they can be for the new administration and the American public. It'll take half a term to undo his mischief, if it can be undone at all.

[mergina]

YOU ARE WELCOME MR. O.........

[Marlyn]

Nuclear power is NEVER "safe".

[canucklivinginUSA]

Tell that to the French and the Japanese that depend on it, then

[plzchuteme]

Wake up!
While we are fawning over Obama, vomiting over Palin and Lieberman, and hyperventilating about Rush, Bill, and Sean, Dubya is making dangerous mischief and urinating on the radiator. It takes a long time, if ever to get the smell out.

[PeterVanKan]

On behalf of Europe: we missed you guys, these last 8 years. Great to have you back.

[BrnPhil]

I love it when I see comments of ppl, you are offering Hillary SosS, ok I don't support you. You are not kicking Lieberman out, ok I don't support you. Grow up people. Stand by and wait.

[Shieldmaiden]

They're acting like spoiled children. I like what Obama has to say about global warming and climate change. This issue is WAY bigger than Lieberman, and if we can achieve energy independence, then I will be very excited and proud.

[canucklivinginUSA]

I have stop caring about these people. Actually, I would prefer that we do not bring this up in any Obama related post, if possible

[mcantwell]

Hey Obama supporters, don't be fooled by the RedState and Rush / Hannity Trolls running rampant all over Huffpo.

[SharonAustinTX]

I love how Obama clearly states his decisions. There's no misinterpretation and I believe he will get legislation passed in spite of objections in congress. Name them and shame them. Transparency in government. The millions of Obama supporters stand ready to make calls and send e-mails to our elected officials, writer letters to the editor in local newspapers and ultimately vote them out of office. We're keeping track and we're staying involved, you 'betcha'.

[rose london]

It's good to be EDUCATED. OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA IS SO COOL, EDUCATED, CARING, IN TOUCH AND SOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOO­OOOOORRRRR­RRRRRREEEE­EEEEEEAAAA­AAAAAAALLL­LLLLLL.
THANK YOU JESUS. THANK YOU MOTHER OF CHRIST. THANK YOU SO MUCH GOD.

[Tom Payned]

You're not even in office yet and I've already lost my optimism for your presidency. First there was FISA now your backing of Lieberman.

No more support by me. I'm back to the Independents,.

[KayWrites]

Lieberman is a chess move. And Obama has already asked his legal team to start going over Bush's orders for legality and all those found to be illegal will be rescinded immediately. The portions of the FISA orders found to be unconstitutional will be struck. FISA has been working fine since the 70's. I daresay all that has to be done is go back to the word, letter, and spirit of the existing law prior to the damage done by Bush and his criminals.

[harriscrl3]

You do realize that reflects more poorly on you than on him. You just said he is not in office yet and he has lost your optimism.

OK you can always hope for the status quo to return you just might get it.

shakes head. Right now now if Lassie was the next President I would be optimistic much less someone who reads who can speak who plans on following through with his concrete policies. Obama just needs to say Hello and I'm hopeful. Matter of fact he doesnt need to say anything the mere fact that I see people around the world particularly in African celebrating makes me optimistic. Sometimes it helps to get out of your own personal world it does wonders.

But hey thats just me

Carol

[lattedrinker]

By going back to the Independents you too would be supporting Lieberman. As an Independent myself, I am ashamed that I would share a party affiliation with the Benedict Arnold.

[EvenSteven88]

Fair weather fan?

[Shieldmaiden]

Hello - Lieberman IS an independent. Why would you want to be part of the group that supports Lieberman? I am utterly confused by the ridiculous comments I have been reading on Huffo.