English subtitles for clip: File:2013-06-29 President Obama's Weekly Address.ogv
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1 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:07,567 The President: Hi, everybody. 2 00:00:07,567 --> 00:00:10,633 A few days ago, I unveiled a new national plan 3 00:00:10,633 --> 00:00:14,600 to confront the growing threat of a changing climate. 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,867 Decades of carefully reviewed science tells us our planet 5 00:00:17,867 --> 00:00:20,233 is changing in ways that will have profound impacts 6 00:00:20,233 --> 00:00:22,633 on the world we leave our children. 7 00:00:22,633 --> 00:00:25,299 Already we know that the 12 warmest years 8 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:26,400 in recorded history 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,666 have all come in the last 15, 10 00:00:28,667 --> 00:00:32,400 and that last year was the warmest in American history. 11 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,500 And while we know no single weather event 12 00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:36,767 is caused solely by climate change, 13 00:00:36,767 --> 00:00:37,900 we also know that, 14 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:40,567 in a world that's getting warmer than it used to be, 15 00:00:40,567 --> 00:00:43,133 all weather events are affected by it -- 16 00:00:43,133 --> 00:00:48,467 more extreme droughts, floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. 17 00:00:48,467 --> 00:00:50,734 Those who already feel the effects of a changing climate 18 00:00:50,734 --> 00:00:52,500 don't have time to deny it. 19 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:54,500 They're busy dealing with it -- 20 00:00:54,500 --> 00:00:57,834 the firefighters who brave longer wildfire seasons; 21 00:00:57,834 --> 00:00:59,900 the farmers who see crops wilted one year 22 00:00:59,900 --> 00:01:02,000 and washed away the next; 23 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,600 western families worried about water that's drying up. 24 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,600 The costs of these events can be measured 25 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,265 in lost lives and livelihoods, 26 00:01:10,266 --> 00:01:12,233 lost homes and businesses, 27 00:01:12,233 --> 00:01:13,633 and hundreds of billions of dollars 28 00:01:13,633 --> 00:01:16,100 in emergency services and disaster relief. 29 00:01:16,100 --> 00:01:19,833 And Americans across the country are already paying the price 30 00:01:19,834 --> 00:01:22,300 of inaction in higher food costs, 31 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:26,133 insurance premiums, and the tab for rebuilding. 32 00:01:26,133 --> 00:01:28,934 So the question is not whether we need to act; 33 00:01:28,934 --> 00:01:31,633 the question is whether we will have the courage to act 34 00:01:31,633 --> 00:01:33,699 before it's too late. 35 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:35,700 The national climate action plan I unveiled 36 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:37,333 will cut carbon pollution, 37 00:01:37,333 --> 00:01:40,166 protect our country from the impacts of climate change, 38 00:01:40,166 --> 00:01:42,700 and lead the world in a coordinated assault 39 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:44,633 on a changing climate. 40 00:01:44,633 --> 00:01:46,232 To reduce carbon pollution, 41 00:01:46,233 --> 00:01:48,233 I've directed the Environmental Protection Agency 42 00:01:48,233 --> 00:01:51,133 to work with states and businesses to set new standards 43 00:01:51,133 --> 00:01:54,399 that put an end to the limitless dumping of carbon pollution 44 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,233 from our power plants. 45 00:01:56,233 --> 00:01:58,533 We'll use more clean energy and waste less energy 46 00:01:58,533 --> 00:02:00,667 throughout our economy. 47 00:02:00,667 --> 00:02:01,667 To prepare Americans 48 00:02:01,667 --> 00:02:04,266 for the impact of climate change we can't stop, 49 00:02:04,266 --> 00:02:06,400 we'll work with communities to build smarter, 50 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,300 more resilient infrastructure to protect our homes and businesses 51 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:12,900 and withstand more powerful storms. 52 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:15,934 And America will lead global efforts to combat the threat 53 00:02:15,934 --> 00:02:18,867 of a changing climate by encouraging developing nations 54 00:02:18,867 --> 00:02:21,266 to transition to cleaner sources of energy 55 00:02:21,266 --> 00:02:23,132 and by engaging our international partners 56 00:02:23,133 --> 00:02:24,333 in this fight. 57 00:02:24,333 --> 00:02:26,333 For while we compete for business, 58 00:02:26,333 --> 00:02:28,100 we also share a planet, 59 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:30,500 and we must all shoulder the responsibility 60 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,633 for its future together. 61 00:02:32,633 --> 00:02:34,700 This is the fight America can and will lead 62 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:36,367 in the 21st century, 63 00:02:36,367 --> 00:02:40,566 but it will require all of us, as citizens, to do our part. 64 00:02:40,567 --> 00:02:43,066 We will need scientists to design new fuels 65 00:02:43,066 --> 00:02:44,867 and farmers to grow them. 66 00:02:44,867 --> 00:02:47,367 We'll need engineers to devise new technologies 67 00:02:47,367 --> 00:02:49,934 and businesses to make and sell them. 68 00:02:49,934 --> 00:02:51,800 We'll need workers to man assembly lines 69 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,100 that hum with high-tech zero-carbon components 70 00:02:55,100 --> 00:02:56,632 and builders to hammer into place 71 00:02:56,633 --> 00:03:00,333 the foundations for a new clean-energy age. 72 00:03:00,333 --> 00:03:01,867 We'll need to give special care to people 73 00:03:01,867 --> 00:03:04,632 in communities unsettled by this transition. 74 00:03:04,633 --> 00:03:07,000 And those of us in positions of responsibility 75 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,233 will need to be less concerned with the judgment 76 00:03:09,233 --> 00:03:12,300 of special interests and well-connected donors 77 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:15,967 and more concerned with the judgment of our children. 78 00:03:15,967 --> 00:03:19,066 If you agree with me, I need you to act. 79 00:03:19,066 --> 00:03:21,066 Educate your classmates and colleagues, 80 00:03:21,066 --> 00:03:22,900 your family and friends. 81 00:03:22,900 --> 00:03:24,967 Speak up in your communities. 82 00:03:24,967 --> 00:03:27,000 Remind everyone who represents you, 83 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,567 at every level of government, 84 00:03:28,567 --> 00:03:29,767 that there's no contradiction 85 00:03:29,767 --> 00:03:33,133 between a sound environment and a strong economy, 86 00:03:33,133 --> 00:03:34,834 and that sheltering future generations 87 00:03:34,834 --> 00:03:36,867 against the ravages of climate change 88 00:03:36,867 --> 00:03:40,132 is a prerequisite for your vote. 89 00:03:40,133 --> 00:03:43,600 We will be judged as a people, as a society, 90 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,299 and as a country on where we go from here. 91 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:49,567 The plan I've put forward to reduce carbon pollution 92 00:03:49,567 --> 00:03:52,233 and protect our country from the effects of climate change 93 00:03:52,233 --> 00:03:54,867 is the path we need to take. 94 00:03:54,867 --> 00:03:57,132 And if we remember what's at stake, 95 00:03:57,133 --> 00:03:59,400 the world we leave to our children, 96 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,967 I'm convinced that this is a challenge that we will meet. 97 00:04:03,967 --> 00:04:06,000 Thanks, and have a great weekend.