The Age Newspaper
US president-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday vowed he would "engage vigorously" in global climate change talks and that denial was no longer an acceptable response to global warming.
Obama said in a surprise video message to an international conference on climate change hosted by five US state governors here that he would show new leadership on the issue as soon as he takes office in January. The president-elect also addressed his message directly to delegates at United Nations climate change talks in Poland next month.
"While I won't be president at the time of your meeting and while the United States has only one president at a time, I've asked members of Congress who are attending the conference as observers to report back to me on what they learn there," Obama said.
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Mayor Profile
- Mayor Nick Katris
- Kogarah Council
- New South Wales
'One of the biggest challenges today for all communities is climate change, which challenges all levels of Government. Its impact has just begun to be felt. The first document I am bringing forward for discussion is the Mayor’s Agreement on Climate Change. If ratified, Kogarah will strive to meet the Kyoto Protocol targets in our own operations. We will also lobby State and Federal Government to enact policies to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce the impact of climate change'.
Leaders Snapshots provides a running coverage of work undertaken to support the political leadership of mayors and councillors. Briefings and presentations to councils are available on request. Contact Martin Brennan, Deputy CEO ICLEI Oceania
