Obama: White House Climate Change Summit a “Missed Opportunity”
Friday, September 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Amy Brundage, 202-228-5511
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) made the following statement on President Bush’s remarks to the White House "Major Economies Meeting On Energy Security And Climate Change," where President Bush again failed to commit to mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
“This week’s meeting of the world’s largest emitters is a missed opportunity. Seven years of missed opportunities have stripped America of its credibility on this issue and left the planet more vulnerable than ever. Effectively tackling climate change demands innovative leadership from the United States, and the President’s voluntary measures reflect neither innovation nor leadership.
“We must change this legacy of inaction and insist on mandatory reductions in emissions. Doing so will position the United States to capitalize on the burgeoning global low carbon energy market, creating jobs and economic opportunities for millions of Americans while ensuring that we head off the inevitable damaging consequences of climate change.”