An Excerpt from the Remarks of President Biden on
Actions to Tackle the Climate Crisis
I come here today with a message: As President, I have a responsibility to
act with urgency and resolve when our nation faces clear and present danger. And
that’s what climate change is about. It is literally, not figuratively, a clear and
present danger.
The health of our citizens and our communities is literally at stake.
The U.N.’s leading international climate scientists called the latest climate
report nothing less than, quote, “code red for humanity.” Let me say it again:
“Code red for humanity.” It’s not a group of political officials — elected
officials. These are the scientists.
We see here in America, in red states and blue states, extreme weather
events costing $145 billion — $145 billion in damages just last year — more
powerful and destructive hurricanes and tornadoes. I’ve flown over the vast
majority of them out west and down in Louisiana, all across America. It’s a —
it’s amazing to see.
Ravaging hundred-year-old droughts occurring every few years instead of
every hundred years. Wildfires out west that have burned and destroyed more
than 5 million acres — everything in its path. That is more land than the entire
state of New Jersey, from New York down to the tip of Delaware. It’s amazing.
Five million acres.
Our national security is at stake as well. Extreme weather is already
damaging our military installations here in the States. And our economy is at risk.
So, we have to act.
Extreme weather disrupts supply chains, causing delays and shortages for
consumers and businesses. Climate change is literally an existential threat to our
nation and to the world.
So, my message today is this: Since Congress is not acting as it should —
and these guys here are, but we’re not getting many Republican votes — this is an
emergency. An emergency. And I will — I will look at it that way.
I said last week and I’ll say it again loud and clear: As President, I’ll use
my executive powers to combat climate — the climate crisis in the absence of
congressional actions, notwithstanding their incredible action. (Applause.)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/07/20/remarks-by-president-
biden-on-actions-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis/
An Excerpt from the Remarks of President Biden on
Actions to Tackle the Climate Crisis
I come here today with a message: As President, I have a responsibility to
act with urgency and resolve when our nation faces clear and present danger. And
that’s what climate change is about. It is literally, not figuratively, a clear and
present danger.
The health of our citizens and our communities is literally at stake.
The U.N.’s leading international climate scientists called the latest climate
report nothing less than, quote, “code red for humanity.” Let me say it again:
“Code red for humanity.” It’s not a group of political officials — elected
officials. These are the scientists.
We see here in America, in red states and blue states, extreme weather
events costing $145 billion — $145 billion in damages just last year — more
powerful and destructive hurricanes and tornadoes. I’ve flown over the vast
majority of them out west and down in Louisiana, all across America. It’s a —
it’s amazing to see.
Ravaging hundred-year-old droughts occurring every few years instead of
every hundred years. Wildfires out west that have burned and destroyed more
than 5 million acres — everything in its path. That is more land than the entire
state of New Jersey, from New York down to the tip of Delaware. It’s amazing.
Five million acres.
Our national security is at stake as well. Extreme weather is already
damaging our military installations here in the States. And our economy is at risk.
So, we have to act.
Extreme weather disrupts supply chains, causing delays and shortages for
consumers and businesses. Climate change is literally an existential threat to our
nation and to the world.
So, my message today is this: Since Congress is not acting as it should —
and these guys here are, but we’re not getting many Republican votes — this is an
emergency. An emergency. And I will — I will look at it that way.
I said last week and I’ll say it again loud and clear: As President, I’ll use
my executive powers to combat climate — the climate crisis in the absence of
congressional actions, notwithstanding their incredible action. (Applause.)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/07/20/remarks-by-president-
biden-on-actions-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis/