Obama's Address at COP15

Pres. Barack Obama urged international action today on a climate agreement, as COP15 closes: "We are running short on time – These international discussions have essentially taken place now for almost two decades, and we have very little to show for it … the time for talk is over."

"We are convinced that changing the way we use energy is essential to America’s national security, because it will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and help us deal with some of the dangers posed by climate change," said Obama. "– It is good for us, as well as good for the world" to take action on clean energy and climate change, he asserted in the much-anticipated address.

Austinites Valerie Davis and Kevin Tuerff have posted their own comments from Copenhagen, the video of Obama's address, and an official transcript here.

They also link to a Washington Post article describing the struggle of climate legislation. It leads:

"As President Obama arrives in Copenhagen hoping to seal an elusive deal on climate change, his approval rating on dealing with global warming has crumbled at home and there is broad opposition to spending taxpayer money to encourage developing nations to curtail their energy use, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll."

But it also says the poll shows that "nearly two-thirds of people surveyed say the federal government should regulate the release of greenhouse gases."