Obama’s Call for Climate Action

The following statement was released today by National Wildlife Federation in response to President-Elect Obama’s call for climate action. See Obama’s surprise climate change video appearance at:

http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_promises_new_chapter_on_climate_change/

Larry Schweiger

For Immediate Release

November 18, 2008

Contact: Miles Grant, National Wildlife Federation, 703-864-9599 (cell), grantm@nwf.org

NWF President & CEO Reacts to Obama’s Call for Climate Action

WASHINGTON, DC (November 18, 2008) – President-elect Barack Obama delivered a speech via video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvG2XptIEJk) today to the bipartisan Governors’ Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles.

Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, said today:

"With today’s call for action on global warming, President-elect Obama has kicked the gears of change into motion. The call for action will echo from the halls of Washington to the capitals of nations around the world.

"After years of gridlock in Washington, Obama has offered America and the world a new beginning that promises to revitalize our economy with clean energy and to protect our planet in peril.

"As world leaders gather in the coming weeks in Poland to negotiate a pathway out of the climate crisis, the eyes of the world will be upon America and our newfound resolve to rejoin global efforts.

"The American public stands behind Obama’s call for action. According to a Zogby post-election poll, 60 percent of Americans who voted in the elections believe combating global warming should be a high priority’ for the next president and new Congress.

"The time for America to act is now. With our economy in crisis and our planet in peril, the fate of our economy and environment hinge on how quickly we move to repower America with clean energy solutions.

Clean energy investments create jobs, revitalize our economy, and reduce the pollution that is accelerating global warming. The investments in clean energy that forestall a climate meltdown will aid our recovery from the global financial meltdown.

"We applaud President-elect Obama’s determination to aggressively pursue his campaign commitment to cap the pollution that is causing global warming and invest financial resources from a cap-and-trade plan in deploying clean energy technologies and safeguarding America’s natural resources.

"With the backing of our four million supporters across America, the National Wildlife Federation is committed to enacting strong climate and clean energy legislation in Congress in 2009."

The National Wildlife Federation ( http://www.nwf.org/ )is America’s largest conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

Published: November 18, 2008