Reaction from Oil Change International to Climate Speech

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, 25 May 2013

CONTACT: Stephen Kretzmann: 202-497-1033, steve@priceofoil.org

Obama: “We can’t just drill our way out of the energy and climate challenge.”

Reaction from Oil Change International to Climate Speech

The President released a package of actions today intended to address climate pollution. Stephen Kretzmann, Executive Director of Oil Change International, issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

“Oil Change International applauds President Obama today for his show of leadership on climate change.  By recognizing that “we can’t just drill our way out of the energy and climate challenge that we face” the President has firmly put our nation’s commitment to our future and our children above the profits of the fossil fuel industry.

The President’s statement that the “net effects of pipeline’s impacts on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project will go forward” is sound. And the answer to that question is clear: Keystone XL will greatly impact our climate, and thus our communities and our children.  On this basis, the pipeline must be denied[1].

The President is also to be congratulated for calling for “an end to U.S. government support for public financing of new coal plants overseas.”  Ending these subsidies, which have skyrocketed in recent years at the U.S. Export-Import Bank in particular, is long overdue and begins to bring his own Administration in line with his bold global call to phase out taxpayer support for fossil fuels.

Effectively fighting climate change, and the fossil fuel interests that profit from it, will require more than smart policies; meeting this challenge requires a movement powerful enough to defeat the oil, gas and coal industry’s money with the voices of many Americans who want a brighter future for our children. That includes Americans protecting their communities from deadly fracking for natural gas on a daily basis, and the President’s ongoing infatuation with natural gas was one false step today.

Overall though, today’s speech is the clearest sign yet that a climate and energy movement capable of taking on the fossil fuel industry is finally here. We now know the President can hear our voices.  We look forward to hearing more of his in the near future.”

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