President Obama speaks on U.S. role to fight global emissions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama addressed climate change and the U.S.’ role in combating global climate emissions at a press conference during the United Nations Paris Climate Summit.

Friends of the Earth U.S. President Erich Pica issued the following response:

Time and again, President Obama has spoken eloquently about the urgency of the climate crisis and the actions the U.S. is taking to address it. But such rhetoric on American leadership is not actually borne through appropriate action. While the Obama administration’s commitment to addressing climate change is  indeed ahead of many in Congress, it falls far behind the science. And ultimately, it’s the science, not Washington politics, that matter.

Though the Obama administration and some in the media brand the U.S. as a climate champion, and countries like India obstacles to change, this is hardly more than a blame game to deflect the world’s attention away from the inadequacy of climate action taken by those most responsible for the climate crisis. It is past time for President Obama to actually operationalize, rather than talk about, true climate leadership and leave behind a climate legacy for future generations in line with what science and justice demand.

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Expert contact: Karen Orenstein, (202) 222-0717, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]