Obama lays out climate action plan
By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website
President Obama said he would use his executive powers to enforce the new rules on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
'No time for the Flat Earth Society' Watch
Pipe dream could haunt Obama
Obama in climate change pledge Watch
US President Barack Obama has laid out a package of measures aimed at curbing climate change, including limits on emissions from power plants.
He also unveiled plans for an expansion of renewable energy projects, improved flood resilience and calls for an international climate deal.
Administration officials had earlier rejected the idea of
a "carbon tax".
President Obama pledged in his inaugural address in January to act on climate change in his second term.
'Moral obligation'
The activists who gathered at Georgetown University saw a president finally living up to campaign promises first made years ago.
For Barack Obama, pausing frequently to wipe the sweat from his brow - surely the White House didn't choose one of the hottest days of the year to make a point? - this was a chance to lay down a gauntlet.
It's certainly his boldest statement of intent yet on the difficult ground of
climate change.
But it's been abundantly clear throughout his more than four years in office that Congress is not simply going to do his bidding. The president may think the debate over climate science is over, but there are still plenty of sceptics ready and willing to say otherwise.
Bypassing Congress may help the president to realise some of his proposals, but Mr Obama knows that tough political and legal battles lie ahead.
Speaking at Georgetown University in Washington DC, President Obama said: "As a president, as a father and as an American, I am here to say we need to act."
President Obama mocked critics who contend climate change is not a threat.
"I don't have much patience for anyone who denies that this challenge is real," he said. "We don't have time for a meeting of the Flat Earth Society."
BBC News - Obama lays out climate action plan
and there's how it works.
the herd will soon be combining
climate change threat doubters with
flat earth society kooks.
like 9-11 conspiracy kooks. and reptilians.
cuz da Prez said don't tolerate it.
it depends though on what is, is.
[video=youtube;6K5M0xtxQVQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K5M0xtxQVQ[/video]
Bush Addresses the U.N. - tells the world no 911 discussions
