Below is a wonderful quote from the President of the USA Barack Obama during his Inaugural Address today (source: Washington Post). It sounds like the USA is ready to start moving forward on much-needed federal action on global warming:
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 is 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.
I highlighted the quote because it has not been common to hear from the federal government about progressive action on mitigating the impacts of global warming. President Obama’s comments are, as I said before, much-needed. I hope all successive presidents maintain this viewpoint on global warming – it’s an issue that deletes party lines.