Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize Timely Reminder of Global Opportunity to Confront Climate Change

Senate Now Needs to ‘Answer the President’s Call’ for Clean Energy

October 9, 2009 -- Today’s announcement that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize recognizes his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The Norwegian Nobel Committee also noted his commitment to confront climate change. National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Larry Schweiger had this to say:

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“I congratulate President Obama for receiving the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. The award notes the importance of President Obama’s initiative to lead the country toward ‘a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.’ The award is a timely reminder that we have an unprecedented opportunity for global progress on climate change. The eyes of the world are on the United States as we head toward the global climate summit in December in Copenhagen.

“President Obama has been making up for the lost years when the United States did little to reduce pollution and sat on the sidelines of the global effort to confront global warming. President Obama’s administration is pursuing the first regulations of carbon pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks, and he worked with Congress to include significant investments in clean, renewable energy sources to create clean energy jobs as part of the economic recovery package earlier this year.

“The hardest and most important work is still before us. The Senate needs to answer the President’s call for clean energy legislation that delivers less pollution, more jobs and greater security here in the United States. And we need an effective global agreement sufficient to meet the challenge of global warming and backed by an effective U.S. climate law.

“In his recent address to the United Nations Climate Summit, President Obama warned:

“the security and stability of each nation and all peoples — our prosperity, our health, and our safety — are in jeopardy. And the time we have to reverse this tide is running out.”

“President Obama’s personal commitment and continued leadership on climate change is essential to put America, and the world, on a lasting course toward a more secure and stable future.”

Source: The National Wildlife Federation