United Nations Radio

December 2009
>
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31

Connect

Services

 18 December 2009
Print Sound bites Share

America is going green, with or without Copenhagen

18/12/2009

In a much awaited speech delivered in Copenhagen, on Friday, US President Barack Obama told leaders that as the world's second largest emitter, America intends to bear its share of responsibility in addressing climate change.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Obama believes it is possible to act boldly and decisively in the face of this common threat, but he doubts the ability of other world leaders to take a collective action.

"So, I want this plenary session to understand...America is going to continue on this course of action to mitigate our emissions and to move towards a clean energy economy, no matter what happens here in Copenhagen. We think it is good for us as well as good for the world. But, we also believe that we will all be stronger, all be safer, all be more secure if we act together."

Obama said the US is already taking bold action at home by pursuing new legislation to transform the country into a clean energy economy.

He reassured the assembly that America would fulfill its commitments to cut emissions in the range of 17 percent by 2020 and more than 80 percent by 2050, and encouraged other major economies to do the same.

Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'11")

Sound bites

US President Barack Obama Cut 1

"So, I want this plenary session to understand...America is going to continue on this course of action to mitigate our emissions and to move towards a clean energy economy, no matter what happens here in Copenhagen. We think it is good for us as well as good for the world. But, we also believe that we will all be stronger, all be safer, all be more secure if we act together."
Duration: 00:00:24

US President Barack Obama Cut 2

"We intend to meet that responsibility. That is why we have renewed our leadership within international climate negotiations, that is why worked with other nations to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, that is why we have taken bold action at home - by making historic investments in renewable engergy, by putting our people to work increasing efficiency in our homes and buildings, by pursuing comprehensive legislation to transform to a clean energy economy."
Duration: 00:00:31

US President Barack Obama Cut 3

"These mitigation actions are ambitious, and we are taking them not simply to meet our global responsibilities. We are convinced, as some of you may be convinced, that changing the way we produce and use energy is essential to America's economic future - that it will create millions of new jobs, power new industry, keep us competitive, and spark new innovation. We are convinced for our own self interest that the way we use energy, changing it to a more efficient fashion, is essential to our national security."
Duration: 00:00:35