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| Obama appeals for ‘ambitious’ effort to stem effects of climate change | Obama appeals for ‘ambitious’ effort to stem effects of climate change |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| NEW YORK — President Obama vowed Tuesday to push for completion next year of a comprehensive treaty reducing greenhouse gas emissions, warning that the Earth’s climate appears to be “changing faster than our efforts to address it.” | NEW YORK — President Obama vowed Tuesday to push for completion next year of a comprehensive treaty reducing greenhouse gas emissions, warning that the Earth’s climate appears to be “changing faster than our efforts to address it.” |
| Obama, speaking to a gathering of world leaders at a special U.N. climate summit, said the United States was willing to commit to steeper cuts in its own carbon emissions, but he insisted that other nations — including those in the developing world — must do the same if the planet is to be spared dramatic temperature increases in coming decades. | Obama, speaking to a gathering of world leaders at a special U.N. climate summit, said the United States was willing to commit to steeper cuts in its own carbon emissions, but he insisted that other nations — including those in the developing world — must do the same if the planet is to be spared dramatic temperature increases in coming decades. |
| “The alarm bells are ringing,” Obama told the assembly, which included heads of state from more than 120 countries. “We cannot pretend we do not hear them.” | “The alarm bells are ringing,” Obama told the assembly, which included heads of state from more than 120 countries. “We cannot pretend we do not hear them.” |
| Arriving at U.N. headquarters two hours after announcing U.S. airstrikes again Islamist extremists in Syria, Obama said the looming ecological crisis caused by the buildup of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere posed a greater danger to the planet than even terrorism or Africa’s worsening Ebola epidemic. | Arriving at U.N. headquarters two hours after announcing U.S. airstrikes again Islamist extremists in Syria, Obama said the looming ecological crisis caused by the buildup of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere posed a greater danger to the planet than even terrorism or Africa’s worsening Ebola epidemic. |
| “There’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent and growing threat of a changing climate,” Obama said. He ticked off a list of recent U.S. weather disasters — from Hurricane Sandy to record droughts in the West — as evidence that the once-distant threat of climate change has “moved firmly into the present.” | “There’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent and growing threat of a changing climate,” Obama said. He ticked off a list of recent U.S. weather disasters — from Hurricane Sandy to record droughts in the West — as evidence that the once-distant threat of climate change has “moved firmly into the present.” |
| Obama was one of scores of heads of state to address the U.N. summit, convened by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to pressure the world’s industrialized countries ahead of a round of climate negotiations scheduled for late next year in Paris. Previous efforts failed to yield a global deal on cutting carbon emissions, in part because of differences between developing countries and the industrialized nations historically responsible for the bulk of the pollutants in the atmosphere. But in recent years, China has overtaken the United States as the largest single emitter of greenhouse gases. | Obama was one of scores of heads of state to address the U.N. summit, convened by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to pressure the world’s industrialized countries ahead of a round of climate negotiations scheduled for late next year in Paris. Previous efforts failed to yield a global deal on cutting carbon emissions, in part because of differences between developing countries and the industrialized nations historically responsible for the bulk of the pollutants in the atmosphere. But in recent years, China has overtaken the United States as the largest single emitter of greenhouse gases. |
| Obama reiterated his commitment to seeking an “ambitious” global pact on climate change even while acknowledging heavy political resistance in the United States, where Congress repeatedly has voiced opposition to binding limits on carbon emissions. He said Washington and Beijing bear special responsibility for reducing carbon pollution, but he added: “No one gets a pass.” | Obama reiterated his commitment to seeking an “ambitious” global pact on climate change even while acknowledging heavy political resistance in the United States, where Congress repeatedly has voiced opposition to binding limits on carbon emissions. He said Washington and Beijing bear special responsibility for reducing carbon pollution, but he added: “No one gets a pass.” |
| “We can only succeed in combating climate change if we are joined by every nation,” he said. | “We can only succeed in combating climate change if we are joined by every nation,” he said. |
| Obama touted his administration’s achievements in lowering pollution, pointing to a drop in U.S. emissions to 20-year-lows and sharp increases in solar and wind energy production. Early next year, he said, the White House will announce plans for further cuts, made possible in part by tougher fuel-economy standards for American automobiles and proposed new restrictions on carbon emissions from utility plants. | Obama touted his administration’s achievements in lowering pollution, pointing to a drop in U.S. emissions to 20-year-lows and sharp increases in solar and wind energy production. Early next year, he said, the White House will announce plans for further cuts, made possible in part by tougher fuel-economy standards for American automobiles and proposed new restrictions on carbon emissions from utility plants. |
| But he said the administration simultaneously must take steps to prepare for climatic changes that already have started to emerge, particularly rising sea levels and more intense weather events. He said the administration would revise its foreign aid guidelines to factor in the effect of weather disasters tied to global warming. The White House also pledged to expand access to weather data and forecasting technology to enable developing countries to prepare better for storms. | |
| “No matter what we do, some populations will still be at risk,” he said. | “No matter what we do, some populations will still be at risk,” he said. |
| China’s Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, speaking after Obama, said his country was willing to do more to lower emissions. “China is ready to work with other countries and to shoulder its responsibilities,” he said. | China’s Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, speaking after Obama, said his country was willing to do more to lower emissions. “China is ready to work with other countries and to shoulder its responsibilities,” he said. |
| The remarks capped a day of rhetoric, promises and warnings over global warming as celebrities including former vice president Al Gore and actor Leonardo DiCaprio — appointed by Ban as a U.N. “messenger of peace” on climate change — also took turns at the podium alongside presidents and prime ministers. | The remarks capped a day of rhetoric, promises and warnings over global warming as celebrities including former vice president Al Gore and actor Leonardo DiCaprio — appointed by Ban as a U.N. “messenger of peace” on climate change — also took turns at the podium alongside presidents and prime ministers. |
| “Every week we’re seeing new and undeniable climate events, evidence that accelerated climate change is here, right now,” DiCaprio said. “None of this is rhetoric, and none of it is hysteria. It is fact.” | “Every week we’re seeing new and undeniable climate events, evidence that accelerated climate change is here, right now,” DiCaprio said. “None of this is rhetoric, and none of it is hysteria. It is fact.” |
| Read more: | Read more: |
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| Countries are completely missing their emissions targets | Countries are completely missing their emissions targets |